Moving Toward Closing the Digital Divide: Central American Immigrant Perspectives on Technology Davina Pruitt-Mentle 2002 NECC San Antonio, Texas June 19, 2002

NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle2 Outline Research Questions Topic Significance Research Activities and Design Preliminary Findings Conclusions

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle3 Central Question How can the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of young Central American immigrants towards the use of technology be described and interpreted

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle4 Sub-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 best to advance their technology related skills?

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle5 Significance - US Hispanics are the second largest and the fastest-growing minority group in the US –By 2005 – will be largest minority –By 2025 – second largest population of Spanish speakers in the world 44% of US immigrants are from Latin America 35.7% below 18 Median age is 26 (Whites is 38)

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle6 Significance -US

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle7 Significance – DC/MD Metropolitan Area 45,000 Latinos in DC –81% from Central and Latin America Maryland has 228,000 Latinos –68% from Central and Latin America DC/MD Metro area: –Second largest group of Salvadorans in the US –Third largest community of Central Americans Langley Park –Latino population increased from 6,956 to 10,294 –Increased from 40% of the population to 63% Source: 2000 US Census Data

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle8 Technology Access 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

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle9 Workforce Preparation 68% of the companies surveyed provided some form of employee training –increase worker productivity –improve technical skills 70% of employers reported training 10% or more of their employees annually 26% of employers reported training more than 75% of their workforce annually Training Expenditures –$2,300 new employees –$2,250 for professional employees –$1,375 for non-professional employee. For training –More than three-quarters of companies use in-house training – 66% use colleges and universities, –55% use industry or trade associations – 55% use outside consultants. Only 13% of the companies surveyed received training assistance, with state training assistance being predominant From 2001 Maryland Business Roundtable Workforce Skills Survey

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle10 Long Term Research Cultural Background US Census Data Ethnography - via Students Ethnography - via Teachers Classroom Technology Studies –Students as design partners –After school computer homework club –Adult computer training Survey Questionnaire(s) Observations Interviews Oral Histories

Ongoing Research Qualitative Ethnographic Questionnaire Observations: Active Participant Privileged Observer Limited Observer Interviews in school formal informal Out of school formal informal Quantitative Historical/political/economic Oral History Board of Ed. Records Newspapers Census Data-immigration Dissertation Research National Survey of Time Use Records, standardized tests: state/school Demographic census data: ex. income, family size Measuring attitude interpersonal culture *thematic apperception tool, problem situation test, sentence completion test attitude toward technology,-computer attitude scale Measuring attitude interpersonal culture *thematic apperception tool, problem situation test, sentence completion test attitude toward technology,-computer attitude scale Classroom Technology Studies Study Implementation Projects & Effectiveness

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle12 Themes Social Aspects Practice Time Educational Pedagogy Language Maintain Culture “Do Better” Connection to Work

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle13 Social Aspects Importance of social aspects of life brought to the US from their home country Family connections Limited social time in US Like to work with a partner or in groups Adults come to class in pairs or “small groups” Learning often includes interaction among students, even in adult classes

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle14 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.” Like working with group - or someone else.” “What if they don’t know 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.”

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle15 Practice Time After School/Training –Don’t have time Work Take Care of Siblings Need child care –Not allowed or times do not fit schedule –No help –Home computer too slow –Home computer “looks” different In School/Training –Not enough time in class –Classes too structured –Don’t like to use social time to make up work –Lab time inconvenient –Need more “open” time - Internet there, but we can not use it –No one to help – teacher/monitor unable to help with questions

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle16 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.” 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] words.” “Would like to practice …but need to buy a computer.” “The things we use [in classes/in training] I do not have at home.”

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle17 Pedagogy*** Software used irrelevant outside of classroom Teachers/instructors limit activities –Bookmark sites –Little searching activities (preset searching) –Not allowed to “do extra” Activities low level and/or drill and practice Software and websites should be –More practical –Culturally AND gender diverse

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle18 Quotations About Pedagogy “They never let us explore other things …we can only do the assignments they want…even if we could add something to make it better.” They [the teachers] are behind the times. They have us edit things and exchange disks…or use the computer to write an assignment but then print it out for edits…why can’t we use the editing thing?”

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle19 Quotations about Pedagogy (continued) “One of the hardest things is finding something [on the Internet] but they never let us do that— they always bookmark it or have us type it [URL] in.” “When are we ever going to use Inspiration?” “The things we use are good …but we don’t have them at home.”

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle20 Quotations About Pedagogy (continued) “They [the schools] need to teach things we need to know for work.” “We took a whole semester learning how to do a business letter…why couldn’t we have used these templates?” [templates in word and downloadable templates-template Gallery]

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle21 Language Don’t like to speak in class (ask questions) Like to work in groups or with a partner Like to use spell check Need to use the Spanish version Need to teach Spanish symbols Like the translator [i.e., Google]

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle22 Quotations about Language “Most [new Latino immigrants] 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].” “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.” Re: why she likes using the computers instead of classroom “I wish they [teachers] would let us use the Internet so that I could use the translator.”

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle23 Quotations about Language “I like knowing how to open several windows….that way I can always use the translator” “…it [translator] isn’t great - but it answers my questions.” “There needs to be more Spanish sites…that way I could show my parents”

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle24 Maintain Culture Switch back and forth in class –Spanish  English –Portuguese  English Maintain language at home and accent “My Country” “Back in my country.” “In my country we …” Reminiscing Checking news from “back home” Checking sports web pages

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle25 Cultural Quotations “I like looking up news…see what’s going on back home.” “I always check the sports page first” “No, they don’t use it [parents]…but they like me to show them the news stuff…like this [website].” “I always check the travel site, the pictures of back home.”

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle26 “Success” – “Doing Better” Formal and informal education is a path to success Technology knowledge - a means to get a job Technology type job “pays well” even without going to college

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle27 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] “You need to know technology to get a job.” “…all the jobs now ask if you have had experience with computers before.”

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle28 Connections to Work Use software not applicable outside of school setting Need to make use of activities and applications that can be practiced later (at school, library, home) Need to teach content but within framework of activities that apply to work skills

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle29 Work Related Quotations “I’m taking this class for work.”- does house cleaning and wants to learn more about invoices, brochures etc… “I’d like a job at the bank…a bank teller…but my friend [works there] says I need to have some basic computer skills.” “This is great [Mapquest] why didn’t they teach this before?” She uses it to map out directions for house cleaning service and can now use it for more accurate mileage logs

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle30 Conclusions Need more time to practice on computers –Limited time after school (work/day care) –Do not expect them to give up “social time” for computer time –In schools always limited time in labs –Adult training – little “free time” and short courses only 5-6 weeks Teachers need to be open to socialization –Flexible makeup –Increased group work

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle31 Conclusions Use tools to help bridge the language barrier –Translation software or Internet versions –Allows students to work at their own pace –Risk Taking/One on One/Group Dialogue Technology can be path to success - but need more access –At school –At home Must teach technology work related skills within the curriculum Select software that can be used outside the educational (formal and informal) setting Ask participants for input and ideas

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle32 Conclusions We are too busy teaching our students and not allowing them to learn We need to reconsider the meaning of technology integration.

June 19, 2002NECC 2002: Davina Pruitt-Mentle33 Moving Toward Closing the Digital Divide: Central American Immigrant Perspectives on Technology Davina Pruitt-Mentle Educational Technology Outreach 2127 Tawes College of Education University of Maryland