So what exactly is the.....Digital Divide?
According to the Oxford Dictionary it is:
" the gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not:a worrying “digital divide” based on race, gender, educational attainment, and income."
There is a digital divide happening across our country in the urban poor and rural country.
In an article written by the Hechinger Report, in January of 2012, a school housing nearly 1,000 students only had 24 computers available in a computer lab. With such little access to computers these children were struggling with such basic tasks as saving files to flash drives and setting margins in Microsoft Word. Here is a short 1 min video on the challenges this school is facing.
http://vimeo.com/3414126
Rural communities are facing the challenge of getting Internet access out to the community. I found in an article written in the Denver Post of how a local cable company, Comcast is helping families receive the access for their children. Comcast on a National level has launched an "Internet Essentials" program to provide families with at least one child on a free or reduced lunch school plan the opportunity to receive monthly Internet service at the price of $9.95 and a voucher worth $150 for a low-cost computer.
As we all know technology is everywhere, but we rarely stop to think of those who do not have the resources to take advantage of our technological advances. I hope this has made everyone more aware that schools and communities are still struggling to keep up with the ever changing technology.
Sources:
http://hechingerreport.org/content/as-some-schools-plunge-into-technology-poor-schools-are-left-behind_7463/
http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/digital%2Bdivide
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21351636/educations-digital-divide-more-about-bandwidth-than-computer
This is an interesting article because it really does make you thankful for what you have and count your blessings. We always hear about less wealthy countries not having the access to computers and internet service, but rarely do we think about other places in the United States that do not have the same access we do. Can you imagine our daily lives without our laptops? Or even without the numerous computers we have for students to use on campus? Life would be completely different without that access to technology. These less fortunate areas deserve to have the same access at schools and in their homes as we do, and i think it was a good idea to offer the "Internet Essentials" plan for students. Free or reduced lunch is necessary because you never know if that is the only meal that child is receiving that day. Internet and the computer voucher make it possible for these families to stay up to date with the rest of the country and have the opportunity to use the internet in their homes and schools.
ReplyDeleteReally an interesting article.Let me add that digital divide remains challenging for countries to bridge. Countries need to invest in an infrastructure and innovation to get the benefit of information and communications technologies. But a digital divide remains between those who do and do not have the right ecosystems in place–including sector-scale plans for digitization of various industries, capabilities to support those plans (including an understanding of social impact), and ways to monitor what actually gets done.
ReplyDeleteWe face this very issue here in our community. Resource centers are popping up around the city to provide computer access and training. These centers allow people to apply for jobs online as well.
ReplyDeleteA company, One Economy, works with this very issue and brings computers and internet service to rural areas here in North Carolina.
I originally thought of the Digital Divide as the gap between generations and out knowledge of how to use technology. Thanks for the information.
It seems that,as of late,having internet access is almost necessary in the academic and social environment.Not having easily accessible computers could harm younger students, as they may not learn the basics of operating a computer. That would put them at a distinct disadvantage. It seems that Comcast's program has been successful, as over 7,500 people are receiving assistance in Pittsburg alone.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments everyone...Interesting to see that Comcast program is helping so many people across the country. I was not even aware of te program until the service until I read this article.
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