Equity Reflection

1. Compare the results of your interview with the results of your peers' interviews. Do you feel that students are getting equitable access to and use of technology in your content area? Why or why not? 

Myranda, Peter, and I's cooperating teachers all use the same technology--heart rate monitors. Lacey was the only one whose teacher did not use any sort of technology in their PE class. I think that the use of heart rate monitors are extremely beneficial for physical education classes because it provides students the knowledge of the importance of heart rate during exercise. If they learn how to properly use the monitors at a younger age, they are more likely to use them when they are no longer in school. Since Lacey's students did not have access to heart rate monitors, I do not think that students are getting equitable access to technology across the state. It is just a 45 minute drive up the I-15 from our schools to Lacey's, yet the technology that is being used is much different. 

2. Compare the results of your interview with the district that school is in and with the state overall. What does the data say about the equitability of what is happening in your cooperating teacher's classroom?

Jordan school district as 54,394 students. As of 2017, 1 device per student ratio statewide was 0.84 and Jordan school district is 0.85, so Jordan school district is about the same ratio compared to statewide. The district's average age of wired gear was 35% less than a year old and the state is only 11%, so the district is above the state average. In the fitness for life class that I am observing, every single student has access to their own heart rate monitor, so the relationship is 1:1. 

3. Compare the results of your interview with the overall state data and that of a VERY DIFFERENT district. What does the data say about the equitability of what is happening in your cooperating teacher's classroom?

Jordan vs Juab

Jordan-54,394 students 

Juab-2,553 students

Juab school district as of 2017 has 1.14 devices per student, which is significant compared to Jordan school district. Juab has over 1 device that is completely accessible to each student. Compared to the state, which is 0.84. On the contrary, 100% of the districts average age of wired gear is 4+ years old, and most likely should be updated in the near future. 

4. What does all of this mean for the kids?

In just the comparison alone of an urban vs a rural school district, the rural school districts have more devices per student, but their wired devices need to be updated sooner than the urban school districts does. I think that overall, the state of Utah is doing a great job at providing technology for their students and I think this is something that is going to continue to flourish over the next few years.