An Interesting Development

An Interesting Development

As the Covid 19 Pandemic has progressed, there have been all kinds of articles in magazines and postings in the various Educational lists that I receive daily that have addressed the problems with the digital divide between schools and their expectation that technology of all kinds be used to bridge the gap between themselves, their teaching staff and their students.  Every day, there is something about this school district or that jurisdiction finding that it is one thing to assume that technology is the ticket to reaching students stuck in their homes.  It is quite another to conclude that not all students have the technology required or the parents who understand how to use it and what to do to make it possible for there to be meaningful learning for their children.  More than a little part of me had started to think about the skill set I bring to that problem and to realize that I could be of service to those schools, those teachers and those parents because that is what I did for all the years after I first started to use computers myself in my classroom.  However, I had thought that I was really to old to make the effort necessary to somehow put myself out there and see what might happen. But then, I got a surprise phone call from one of my favourite old colleagues who is now in charge of all the programs Niagara University operates in Ontario.  In our chat, we both realized that there might, indeed, be a way that my skillset could be put to work for the benefit of not just the students and their parents, but the university as whole. My friend believes that creating videos to help parents understand the world of technology and how to use it with their students would be very appreciative and achieve a greater profile for Niagara University in Ontario and in the community of Vaughan where it is located.  My friend has worked hard to forge business links with that community and its politicians, and he believes what we are thinking of doing could be of great benefit to continue those links and promote the business of Niagara University in Ontario. I agree.  I have always wanted to help spread the word about that University and after our conversation, I was reminded that the former V. P of the University on the American side always used to say how appreciative they were because I had pushed them to go online and become technology centred.  Now, I have an additional opportunity to continue down that path. All I think I have to do now is push our ideas forward and do my best to help make that happen.  I'd be more than a little bit pleased to have a part-time job of some sort, even if it paid me next to nothing. I like the thought of that and the challenge.  What happens now remains to be seen.