Effects of Edtech Funding

Photo by MS Images

Current approaches to funding educational technology can potentially have a positive impact on promoting online privacy and cyber safety.  Teaching fundamental values at a young age is often beneficial.  Children will establish and practice certain actions and by adulthood, these actions will develop into habits.  According to Jeff Gerth, staff writer for Tech Forum, telecommunication programs such as Clinton’s E-Rate increased the number of public schools connected to the Internet by about 32 percent.  By having access to these means of technology, teachers have the ability to instill habits of maintaining online privacy to their students.  If utilized properly, other approaches of edtech funding such as federal initiatives, state and local taxes, fundraising, grants and partnerships have the same capacity to promote cyber safety.  However, this widespread access to technology can also have a negative impact on promoting online privacy.  If students aren’t adequately taught the importance of protecting themselves online, this access can have a negative impact on individual images.

A Cyber Safety Comic

Comic created by Brianna Claggett at Storyboard That

The Digital Divide

Word cloud developed by Brianna Claggett at Tagxedo

Easy access to technology yields a plethora of benefits.  In the 21^st century, essentially all information is posted online, sometimes without the permission of the owner.  In relation to the issue of E-sponsibility, access to technology helps individuals to monitor what is being posted online about them.  In addition, access to technology allows individuals to research why privacy and cyber safety are so important as well as find ways to protect one’s digital dossier. 

However, not everyone has access to technology.  This situation is called the “digital divide.”  Even so, those who lack easy access to technology can still find ways to connect online.  Students often have access to school funded computer labs.  Individuals who don’t have access to these facilities can often go to local libraries, which offer public computers.  In addition, many cafes now provide free wireless Internet.