Prompt:

In general, the digital divide refers to the unequal access by some members of society to information and communications technology, and the unequal acquisition of related skills. Does the digital divide exist in today’s schools? Where does mobile use fit into this equation? Special needs? The first three news articles  speak to these areas of the divide.

We tend to think about the divide in terms of access – does a student/school have networked computers? Wireless or mobile access? On the other hand, there is another definition of the divide which focuses on the instructional and pedagogical uses of technology with students. In other words: Once we have it, how do we ask students to understand and recognize its potential? Teachers? The last article speaks to this perspective of the divide.

What are your thoughts?

Response:

It is a fact: there are socioeconomic divides in most aspects of life and as a result everyone has to budget differently based on their lifestyle. Just for this reason, it is likely grocery stores introduced a lower costing “generic brand” in addition to the more expensive name brands they carry. But, unlike those high priced mustards, no one can afford not to have or access technology.

Unfortunately not everyone can afford access to the digital world and it is beginning to cause a divide which is then propagated as progress in developing technologies springs forward by leaps and bounds. People are suffering because they cannot even access the internet. So many processes have been relocated to the digital world. It would be possible to actually live through the internet: you can bank, pay bills, communicate, even order food all through the World Wide Web. After all that’s the gift of the internet, access to a global network of people and information critical to the proper function of life today. Can you imagine a day without the internet, or your phone? Scary.

Today many people are frustrated over their circumstances regarding online access. It is an issue with many facets, making it difficult to solve expediently. Some people have zero internet access, but they own cell phones with a limited version of the web. Others have internet access and are considerably ignorant of the benefits. And still more have disabilities keeping them from fully benefiting from services online. These are all things that need to change.

Albeit slowly, progress has been made on providing internet for all Americans. Both Washington seems to be on the job. Hopefully within the next few years the Broadband initiative, a plan to bring large scale broadband access to every American, will come to fruition.

Concerning compatibility for people with disabilities, these issues are now being addressed, but not necessarily by whom you would expect. This was not something I had actually considered before reading the article in the Los Angeles Times titled “An Internet for Everyone”. The article says, “For all the hand-wringing about a “digital divide” separating the disabled from the able-bodied, a new era of empowerment is already dawning — the result not of more regulation from Washington but of Silicon Valley’s technological dynamism.” Apparently corporations like Google and Nuance Communications, have been making changes to provide better service for hearing or visually impaired individuals, a note worthy change indeed.

Now the next step is to integrate modern technology into the classroom. In many schools across the country students are not being shown the correct usage of the technology surrounding them. They are aware of most basic functions, but many are deprived of the great capacity the internet and technology have for enhancing education. Teachers need to be held accountable for this type of integration. Technology is present in most schools, while it should never replace the teacher in the classroom, it should be used appropriately to engage students in modern learning. I appreciated the plea in the article by Marc Prensky. He wrote, “being digitally wise involves not only enhancing our natural capabilities with existing technologies but also continuously identifying additional areas where our natural human tools—even when they are developed to a very high level—c annot do the job unaided.” He recognizes the need for technology and for people to be “wise” in other words, understand its capacity to aide us. Prensky really encouraged educators to integrate technology into the classroom and show students just how much it can do for them (although as he pointed out, it could never replace their own cognitive ability).

After reading these articles, and hearing the in class presentation, I am more aware of the digital divide. I would agree with my classmates this is something that desperately needs to change. It is unfortunate that it is an issue on so many more levels than just providing internet access to all. While that is the first step, it does seem like there is quite a way to go before all of our disparities within the realm of technology are leveled.

Comments are closed