Redlands – Faculty member Nicol R. Howard, Ph.D who also leads the university’s Master of Arts in Education Learning and Teaching program was honored with the prestigious Making IT Happen Award from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) at its annual global conference in June. A leader in digital equity research and education, Howard focuses her practice and research on topics including effective technology use in education, equity in computer science, STEM education, and professional learning for educators.
“Educators are increasingly utilizing emerging technologies for teaching and learning, and schools and districts are striving to implement the appropriate infrastructures and digital equity strategies,” she said. “As progress is made, there are still underrepresented and historically marginalized communities who are impacted daily by digital inequities.”
According to the Pew Research Center, about 15 percent of school-aged children lack high-speed internet access at home, she noted: “I hope my research and practice help to raise awareness about the role schools and educational institutions can play in addressing digital inequities, as well as the actions we might collectively take to better prepare students for college and careers in a digital world.”