The digital divide is easy to explain but not so easy to repair. The digital divide refers to the gap between the people who have access to technology and the people who do not have access to technology. Many say that the digital divide is much more prominent in low SES areas, rural areas as well as within minority groups. In researching more on the digital divide I have found that people living in the urban areas are 50% more likely to have access to the Internet, is this due to cost or ways of living?
We have talked in class about the United States forcing our opinions on others to what is right and what is wrong and what others should have, but who are we to pass judgement on what one has or does not have. Is it so far out of reach to think that maybe people that have no access to the Internet is because they don't want to have the access not that it is not available?..
There are various articles on the web that can be read and states to have done studies that lack of access to the Internet vs Internet availability has no effect on test scores and only teaches our children how to use the computer. As I sit here and make this blog I think back to my elementary years with no access to Internet and don't see a huge difference in the education my children receive currently opposed to what I had as a child due to their access. I still believe that everything done in the classroom on a computer can be done without technology as well with the same results depending on what type of teacher you are.
Eliminating the digital divide is something many people in the US are working towards. The department of Commerce and economic Opportunity of Illinois has developed the Digital Divide Grant to increase access to computers, telecommunication technologies and training for populations residing in low - income communities. Under this grant Technology centers will be developed for the community. According to Hector Ruiz, executive chairman of AMD only 40% of the world's population has access to technology and is trying to have 50% of the population in the world to have access to technology by the year 2015.
He states that the Internet is a connection of people and ideas with the Internet being the medium for that connection.
http://www.ted.com/talks/hector_ruiz_on_connecting_the_world.html There are several charities set up all over the Us to help those who do not have access gain access and classes to teach people how to use the computer. I read that using a cell phone, ipad, video game, radio, etc does not take many skills although to work the computer you must be able to navigate your way around and understand the basics so these skills.
The digital divide in my classroom would show up in the case if I assign homework that needs to be researched outside of class, or if I have the students do blogging as part of an assignment and these students not having access to the internet therefore not able to fulfill the requirements. To help children that do not have access I will take a quick poll on the first day to see who has access and who does not. I will make the technology available as much as possible during learning times, an example of this would be if I am having students blog about a book they are reading I would provide laptops in the classrooms for those that are done reading the chapter to begin their blogs. Many school districts do not have computer labs in their schools or have a limited number of laptops available for the whole school to use on rolling carts. I would work with my school to find grants to ensure that each student had access to technology at the school.
If there are students who do not have access to technology at home I would work with them and help them to get a library card so that they may use the internet there. Providing extra hours after school and setting up a program at my school for the students who need it can come in the computer lab and use the lab to do assignments they may not be able to complete at home. These are just a few ideas, but once I get into the classroom and faced with this dilemma I may change things or find different approaches to help close the digital divide within my classroom.
