Culture is a broad term that means many things to many people. In the field of education, culture is the body of traditions and beliefs that define a group of individuals, uniting them as a racial, ethnic, regional or familial community. Being sensitive to the variations among cultural groups is the duty of all teachers. Look for potential cultural issues related to the use of specific books, lesson plans and technological devices.

Luddites and Neo-luddism
The Luddites were a sociopolitical group that emerged in the early 1800s in response to the changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution. Primarily textile workers, they opposed the introduction of machinery that replaced human workers in factories and on farms. Neo-luddites, the current embodiment of individuals against technology, draw their name and sentiments from this movement. While it may seem like a far-fetched situation to a modern educator, the presence of technology in the classroom can lead to a conflict with this anti-tech culture. To avoid issues with these students, inform parents/guardians about the presence of technology early in the year. Include information about alternative educational choices: non-tech classrooms, alternate assignments, other schools.

Outside Resources
For other students, the issue may not be the use of technology but rather the wealth of information technology makes available. Conflicts between this knowledge base and culturally instilled beliefs are not uncommon. Examples of topics that can lead to controversial information are evolutionary theory, same-sex marriage, traditional gender roles and historical events. To avoid this conflict inform parents/guardians of upcoming research projects and draw information from a neutral source equivalent to the district-approved text books. Consider providing information from both sides of the topic for a well-rounded discussion.

Non-Traditional Student-Teacher Roles
The use of technology in the classroom alters the student-teacher roles by placing students in an autonomous position as facilitators of their own educational path. While teachers continue to dictate topics, they also urge students to find their own sources, research and draw individual conclusions. This change conflicts with the traditional educational role of teacher as singular authority. Some families may be opposed to this shift in educational culture. To prevent conflict, discuss potential alternatives with parents/guardians: use of text books, alternate projects, limitation of technological resources and tools.

Family Culture
Individual family units may also hold and express challenges with the use of technology in the classroom. One family may limit time spent using technology, preventing them from completing assignments during class time. Another family might desire the exclusion of personal technological devices such as laptops and MP3 players, perceiving them as having low educational value. As an educator, you may also face culturally based hygienic complaints regarding sharing of technology such as keyboards and headphones. The best practice for avoiding this conflict is to understand the concept of family control in education, respect the decisions of all individuals, and make your classroom activities known to parents/guardians.