Transcript EDUC 498Z Designing Learning with Technology

Moving Toward Closing the Digital Divide:
Central American Immigrants’ Perspective on
Computer and Internet Use
Davina Pruitt-Mentle
Internet Research 2.0
Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 12, 2001
Outline
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Introduction
Goals
Description of Hyattsville/Langley Park
Design
Theoretical Frameworks
Interviews
Conclusions
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Questions
• Central Questions
– How can the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of
young Central American immigrants towards the
use of technology be described and interpreted
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Questions
• What part does technology play in the lives of these individuals
and how does technology relate to their career/educational
goals?
• What are the conditioning factors influencing the use of
technology for Central American immigrants who are
successful in using or applying technology?
• What are the conditioning factors influencing the beliefs or
perceptions about the value of technology for Central American
immigrants who are successful in using or applying
technology?
• What educational setting is perceived as the best way to
advance their technology related skills?
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Why Is It Important?
• 40 million Hispanics in US by 2010
– Largest minority
• 8000 have immigrated from El Salvador since 1992 to DC/MD Metro
Area
• 4700 reside in the Hyattsville area
• Second largest group of Salvadorians
• Third largest community of Central Americans
• Nationwide
– 1 in 2 Hispanics have access to computer at school
– 1 in 8 have access at home
• Hispanic Home Access - 12 % Grades 1-8, 14% in grades 9-12
• White Home Access – 40% Grades 1-8, 46% grades 9-12
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Research & Literature Review
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Cultural Background
US Census Data
Historical Background
Gender Issues
Educational Technology Background
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Original Research Studies
• Ethnography – students (insider)
• Ethnography – teachers (insider)
• Oral histories
– Women immigrants (2)
– Langley Park Community
• Classroom Technology Studies
• Study Implementation Projects & Effectiveness
(culturally diverse multimedia)
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Questionnaire
Observations:
Active Participant
Privileged Observer
Limited Observer
Dissertation
Research
Historical/political/economic
Oral History
Board of Ed. Records
Newspapers
Census Data-immigration
Ongoing
Research
Classroom Technology
Studies
Study Implementation
Projects & Effectiveness
Interviews
in school
formal
informal
Out of school
formal
informal
Qualitative
Ethnographic
Quantitative
National Survey of Time
Use
Records, standardized tests:
state/school
Measuring attitude
interpersonal culture
*thematic apperception tool, problem
situation test, sentence completion test
attitude toward technology,-computer
attitude scale
Demographic census
data: ex. income, family
size
Theoretical Framework
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Historical-structural theory
Social-cultural theory
Gender-feminist theory
Assimilation theory
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Themes
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Social Aspects
Practice Time
Language
Maintain Culture
“Do Better”
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Social Aspects
• Social life and after school play important in
home country
• Limited social time in US
• Like to work with partner or in groups
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Quotes about Socializing
• “In our country, we come home, do
homework, and then go outside and play…
with all the other people who live close.
Everyone knows everyone.”
• “Here you can’t go outside. Mom thinks its
unsafe and no one is around.”
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Quotes about Socializing
• “Like working with group - or someone
else.”
• “What if they don’t know about computers
either?” “Doesn’t matter, it helps just
having a second person.”
• “I like to talk and work. We get our work
done, but like talking.”
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Practice Time
• After School
– Don’t have time
• Work
• Take Care of Siblings
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Not Allowed
No Help
Home Computer Too Slow
Home Computer Looks Different
• In School
– Not enough time in class
– Classes too structured
– Don’t like to use social time
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Quotes about practice
• “Don’t have no computer.”
• “[I] Had internet, then dad got mad because they
started charging a lot.”
• “Can’t understand. Looks different than at school.
This [menu bar is] not the same at home.”
• “I can’t [go to friends to work on computers] after
school. I take care of my brother.”
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Quotes about practice
• “My uncle got it for us. But he doesn’t know it
either.”
• “Mom and dad can’t understand the book. They’re
just learning English, well they know, but not a lot of
those [computer terms] words.”
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Language
• Don’t like to speak in class (ask questions)
• Like to work in groups or with a partner
• Like to use spell check
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Quotations about Language
• “Most don’t like to ask questions because people
laugh. We feel like we are different.”
• “One time I said the bad word for beach - you know,
the bad word [bitch].”
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Quotations about Language
• “Teachers are the worst. They always ask you to
repeat. What? Can you say it again? I can’t
understand? Makes you feel bad.”
• “You can just sit there and they [teachers] will come
around and see you not doing anything or are far
behind and they will squat down to help you.”
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Maintain Culture
• Switch back and forth in class
– Spanish  English
– Portuguese  English
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Maintain language at home and accent
“My Country”
“Back in my country.”
“In my country we …”
Reminiscing
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Do Better
• Seniors  “ancianos”
• “Usted” - a sign of respect and reverence
for their experience and wisdom
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Quotes about Doing Better
• “My mom always says, Diane, I want you to do something
more than just wash other people’s bathrooms like me. And to
do this, you must have a good education.”
• “They sacrificed a lot for us.”
• “Want me to finish school” [unlike parents]
• “Want me to go to college” [unlike parents, first in the family]
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Quotes about Succeeding
• “My father saw no way to get anywhere.
Wanted to have money to buy things for me.
So he left to come here to do better, when I was
still in mom’s belly.”
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Conclusions
• Need time in school on computers
– Limited time after school (work/day care)
• Teachers need to be open to socialization
– Flexible makeup
– Group Work
• Use computer to breakdown language barrier
– Translation software for home and website
– Work at your own pace
– Risk Taking/One on One/Group Dialogue
• Technology can be path to success - but need more access
– At school
– At home
• Educate students and parents on economic benefits of education and
technology
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