How to bridge learning equity gaps with technology

I was diagnosed as dyslexic in the second grade. All things considered, I was among the lucky ones. Dyslexia runs in my family, so we identified the learning disorder early, and I had lots of support.

Even so, school still eventually lost its luster. I loved learning at first, but that feeling was soon replaced with procrastination and dread. 

Today, I’m the computer teacher at Anna Kirchgater Elementary School in Sacramento, Calif. Every day, I see kids face challenges similar to mine. Some share my learning difficulty with dyslexia. Others, especially those from more diverse backgrounds, struggle with English since it’s not their first language. As a Title 1 school, many of Anna Kirchgater’s students and families face socioeconomic challenges, which present their own learning obstacles. 

However, what gives me hope is how we, as educators, can use technology to more effectively bridge these learning gaps, which wasn’t the case when I was in school.

Technology access is our difference-maker

I had very little access to technology growing up. Virtually no tools existed to help second-grade me decipher the words on the page.

In college, the most advanced tool I had at my disposal was a word processor, and it didn’t even have a spell-checker. I had a difficult time expressing myself in words, especially at the collegiate level. As a result, school was demotivating and not the experience it should have been.

Even in later life, I never felt truly successful until I had access to advanced technologies. I knew I had the skills required to succeed, but I struggled to express them properly. Every written correspondence of mine had to be read and edited by a trusted person. As a professional, I was concerned about how errors would be perceived and whether my intelligence would be questioned.

These extra steps took time and were demoralizing. But, as I reflect on my own learning struggles, it puts into perspective what’s improving.

Students now have access to technologies from day one that offer a full spectrum of support. When used in tandem with traditional teaching methods, technology helps learners avoid frustrations. I’m grateful students today are breaking through their learning barriers much earlier than I did.   

This possibility was particularly evident during and immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic. Practically overnight, modernized technology was essential to keeping our students engaged and challenged in learning. We also began familiarizing students with the critical role technology will play in their future educational and professional careers.

We must continue to explore new ways to help students catch up after a period when their learning has been significantly disrupted. Even today, California lags behind pre-pandemic reading and math scores.

Technology fosters the growth mindset that every student needs to succeed, both inside and outside the classroom. It’s our responsibility as educators to ensure every child can use these tools to discover that priceless feeling of learning success.

Diverse technologies help overcome diverse learning gaps

What stands out to me most when working with students in the computer lab is how excited they get about learning when technology is involved.

That enthusiasm doesn’t stop when they leave school, either. I have countless examples of students who turn to game-based learning apps in their free time because it’s fun. While many might fall into a YouTube rabbit hole as a means of escapism, they instead access fun learning games, which help boost their learning outcomes and improve their test scores.

Plenty of skepticism remains around using technology in the classroom, as precise proof of efficacy remains a challenge for schools and educators.

However, anecdotally, I’ve noticed an increase in motivation among my students after using technology, such as game-based learning tools. Engagement is a challenging leading indicator to measure, but as someone who has struggled with learning myself and has over 20 years of teaching experience, I know what progress looks like when I see it. 

With technology, we can better meet learners where they are. Here are a few solutions I turn to often:

• Prodigy Education: I’ve been using Prodigy Math for several years as a game-based learning tool to engage my students in learning and practicing math skills. In the game, students play as wizards exploring different fantasy worlds and progress through math-based quests and battles. Prodigy analyzes each student’s strengths and gaps, then adjusts and tailors content to their learning level. It’s free for teachers, including the assessments and reports used to track student progress.
• Read Along: One of my favorite programs is an add-on in Google Classroom called Read Along, designed for literacy. Read Along is a speech-based reading tutor that helps students read aloud independently by having an avatar listen to and read unknown words or offer hints. Kids feel safe and confident with instant help. There are hundreds of books available, and there’s a comprehension component, too. All literacy information is tracked and accessible for teachers via assignment reports.
• Brisk: I use the free version of Brisk to access AI that helps me plan interactive lessons that check for student understanding of key concepts and resources. Brisk uses a chatbot to interact with students one-to-one, asking questions while assessing stated learning targets. Students can respond through speech-to-text or by typing, and they can change languages. The tool grades assignments for teachers based on specified learning targets and supports learners at many different levels.

With these types of game-based learning platforms and AI tools, we can provide students more avenues to hone and showcase their brilliance. The best part is that they are excited about learning using these tools. Students are producing higher-quality work, especially those who previously feared showing their work.

Many students don’t feel confident putting their hands up to ask for help in a traditional classroom environment. Some of my students also come from families who may not have had access to a meaningful level of education themselves. This means students arrive at school already behind, without access to the support required outside of the classroom to catch up. It can feel impossible for these learners to overcome their hurdles. So they shut down, which makes the path to success even more difficult.

And it’s certainly not their fault, or their families’ fault. But it’s our job as educators to solve the problem.

Attitudes toward school change when we use technology to combine learning with fun. Smiles come back, and students feel motivated to succeed rather than scared of failure.

Bringing the right technologies to the classroom starts with us

Younger me could only dream of the learning tools students have now. There’s still more to figure out, though, and we each have a role to play. 

Specifically, with AI, fears center on privacy and safety. It’s essential we’re careful when adopting new technology in our classrooms.

We also need to ensure that we’re pursuing hardware in tandem with software. Even the best digital learning solutions fall short when we lack the necessary infrastructure, such as headphones and microphones, to bring them to life.  

Alongside educators, I urge policymakers to take a forward-thinking approach to technology. When used thoughtfully as a supplement, rather than a replacement, the benefits of technology in the classroom outweigh the obstacles. We need equal support from our institutions to continue making progress.

Together, we can strike a balance between technological boldness and responsibility. For our students. For the future of our society. And, in some ways, too, for the second-grader in me who wished school and learning could have gone differently. 

Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.

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