Digital Equity Strategies for Teacher Prep Programs (Closing the Gap)

Three experts on equity and technology offer research, evidence-based strategies, and examples of best practices to move toward digital equity in teacher education programs and beyond.

Closing the Gap is an ISTE book series designed to reflect the contributions of multiple stakeholders seeking to ensure that digital equity is achieved on campuses, in classrooms, and throughout education. In this series, authors Nicol R. Howard, Sarah Thomas, and Regina Schaffer offer historical and philosophical insights while exploring challenges and solutions unique to teacher preparation programs, pre-service and in-service teachers, and instructional coaches.

The first title in the Closing the Gap series, this book includes:

• Discussion of historical placement of “digital equity” content in teacher education programs
• Research- and evidence-based vignettes from teacher educators, higher education deans, and department coordinators demonstrating best practices
• Examples of ISTE Standards in action
• Practical tips for preparing future teachers to navigate the process
• Positive applications of digital equity
• A hypothesis for the future direction of digital equity in teacher education

This book will inform teacher education programs and future research, providing positive examples and recommendations for educational technology leaders and educators on moving toward digital equity in K12 and teacher education.

Audience: teacher educators

Nicol R. Howard, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of Redlands. She has served as co-chair for ISTE’s Digital Equity Network. Her research foci are equitable uses of technology in K16 classrooms, STEM Education opportunities and achievement, and teacher education concerns. Her writing has appeared in the Corwin Connected Educators Series Standing in the Gap: Empowering New Teachers Through Connected Resources, Urban Education Journal, International Journal of Educational Technology, EduCause, Edutopia, and eCampus News. Sarah Thomas, Ph.D., is an educator and the founder of the EduMatch movement, a project that empowers educators to make global connections across common areas of interest. She has presented internationally, participated in the Technical Working Group to refresh the 2017 ISTE Standards for Educators, and is a recipient of the 2017 ISTE Making It Happen Award. She is also a national advisor for the Future Ready Instructional Coaches Strand. A full biography is available at bit.ly/sarahthomasbio. Regina Schaffer is a Technology Specialist for the Middletown Township School District. She was recently selected as a National School Board Association's 20toWatch, as well as a 2016 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator. She is a Google Certified Innovator, Common Sense Media Certified Teacher, Discovery Education DEN Star, Remind Connected Educator and a Brainpop Connected Educator. Connect with Regina at @reginaschaffer.