Urban and minority students arrive at colleges all across the country excited and eager about the experience yet many suffer social and academic discouragement early on. Despite their exemplary academic records and extracurricular activities, why do so many fail academically and can't assimilate socially? So what is it that the minority students are missing and the other students have? It's the "hidden curriculum."
The hidden curriculum is the formal and informal academic experiences and cultural exposure that middle and upper income students receive at privileged public and private schools and in their homes and communities. This curriculum involves trips abroad and around the country, visits to major libraries and museums, participation in cotillions and study groups, reading newspapers, regular technology access and so forth. Exposure to this curriculum is what makes transitioning from high school to college and college to the work place easier for some students. Dr. Danielle Moss-Lee of the Harlem Educational Activities Fund describes it as the "high definition color education vs. the basic black and white education."
Most minority and urban students only receive the basic black and white education. Lack of funding for public schools, poverty and lack of family education are among the many reasons this is true. Notwithstanding this, as parents and educators, we must first, recognize that there is a hidden curriculum and second, actively seek out experiences and activities that level the playing field and mitigate the effect of the hidden curriculum.
Technology can be the primary tool for dismantling the hidden curriculum. Technology opens up the world to all students. Educators can take students to the Louvre in Paris, a school in China or to the Smithsonian Museums. Students can read the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal or read excerpts from the Economist. There are blogs on every subject and every state has a website to promote history and tourism. PBS, NASA and the CDC have websites with a plethora of relevant information that will enhance any curriculum and the list of online options is almost endless. With the inclusion of IPads in classrooms, Smart Boards, Social Media and other Web 2.0 tools, the exposure and experiences our children receive is only limited by parents' and teachers' imagination.
As educators and parents we cannot afford not to use technology as an integral part of public education. It provides formal and informal learning opportunities that our children might not otherwise receive.
I agree with what you said about the hidden curriculum and I think you are correct when you talk about implementing technology in these low socioeconomic schools. Problem is it's not just the low-performing areas, it's the schools I teach in. There is a huge push for students to become 21st Century learners, but there isn't any money in the budget to do that. There are so many awesome ideas on how to use technology in your classroom, but the we don't have the tools in our classrooms to do it. It is a sad thing that students across the nation do not have an equal opportunity to learn. I see this problem within our own school system. Our elemenary schools do not show equality. My little county school lacks many amenities that our city schools have. It can be really frustating.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting approach to the need for and the usage of technology in the classroom. The Hidden Curriculum. I must say that when I saw the title, I immediately thought of, maybe curriculum tools and resources that were not being made available to minority and urban students. However; as a result of reading further, you are referencing the need and the usage of technology.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe, and agree that exposure brings the high definition affect to education. However; I question if our technology resources and the high definition effect is enough. You've got me thinking here Barley! lol. I am in a very tech savvy school. Every high school student has a laptop and Web 2.0 tools are used on a regular basis. I think the next step for us would be to take education from "high def" to "3D". Sometimes I think it would be good to get back to field trips and traveling. I believe that the hidden curriculum would be exposed even greater if we could actually make trips to some places and experience the culture first hand.
Thanks for expanding my borders!
Orlando
I always love reading your blogs. The hidden curriculum is correct because so many black and minority students struggle with technology due to the lack of it in the home. Being that I teach at a school where the rate of minority children is growing everyday, I wonder how do you solve this problem? When anyone finds the answer to this question, let me know so I can make sure that my students do not get left in the dust.
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ReplyDeleteI say AMEN to your post and I love the title!! Not only is it catchy but I could not think of a more descpitive way to define what I face on a day-to-day basis. I teach in a low socioeconomic school with 96% of the students below the poverty level. Our students have access to technology but I think to be abreast of 21 Century technology a computer and a printer are not enough. They need access to the most recent software and computer stations that are in working order. I feel that we are facing an age old issue that at one time revolved around outdated textbooks. It's the same dance we have just changed partners. The powers that be continue to cut funding and refuse to address or at times acknowledge the there is a problem.
ReplyDeleteFrom having experience in the school system, I have definitely witnessed the digital divide that you are speaking of. I absolutely agree: there IS a hidden curriculum! I believe that students should have equal availability to technology, but that is surely not the case. Thank you for your posts and I appreciate you blogging about this!!
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