The “Digital Divide”
It is evident that we
live in a digital technological world and therefore schools need to teach their
students to be “information savvy, technologically literate and globally aware”
(McLeod, 171). Even though educators have made
progress in accessing technology for their schools, the research has shown that
not all students have the same availability of technology and therefore a
digital divide has been created. School leaders want everyone to have
access to technology, but there are many obstacles that prevent schools from
having the availability of educational technology. Some obstacles that
created this digital divide are as follows.
Schools that have a high percentage of students who qualify for free or
reduced lunch have a difficult time getting technology in the classrooms
(Schrum and Levin, 168). In comparison, parents in wealthier schools are
more likely to volunteer and supply extra funding for technology and resources
(168).
Another obstacle
is with high poverty rates and those in rural areas that have access to
technology have slower connections to the internet. As a result, it takes
too much time to download programs causing the students to become frustrated
and therefore unproductive. Limited English proficiency (ESL)
students also have a disadvantage. Resources are not always available to
them and if they are many websites and software programs are only in English
(Schrum and Levin, 168). Schools have to come up with solutions to
level out the inequalities that exist in accessing technology. All students have to have the same availability
and the same quality of technology for schools to prepare the students for the 21st
educational skills.
This YouTube clip was
informative because it showed the Digital Divide that is occurring across the
country.
Ways to close the
“Digital Divide”
Some ways to close the
digital divide are listed below. Many
schools are exchanging their textbook funds to provide computer and internet
access (Schrum and Levin, 170). This is one way in ensuring that
more students have access to computers.
Another resource is a school website.
School Grants website (http://www.schoolgrants.org/Links
/technology.htm) provides many links and fundraisers ideas (
170). The U.S. Department of Education also has a website that proves
schools with grants (http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/edgrants.html)
(170). The Future of Children is a nonprofit organization that provides
schools with policies and programs by providing policy makers, service
providers, and the media (172).
Hopefully, more schools will reach out to the resources that are available
and make technology more assessable.
Digital Divide and the
Barriers of Education Technology in Argentina
Recently, the class had
the opportunity to interact with Dr. Cecilia Martinez (a teacher in Argentina)
via our online course. The
interactive video session was very informative and provided me with insight on
the use of technology in classrooms in Argentina. There are many different
socioeconomic levels in Argentina. Therefore, the school system is fragmented. The middle class and the elite students attend
private schools leaving the poor to make up the public school population. Concerning the availability of technology,
the middle and wealthier class people have more access to technology and
resources while the poor have little. However, cafes and public domains offer internet to everyone. Dr. Martinez mentioned that a national program
called Connect Quality donated laptops to some students in her school. Even though some students had access to laptops,
there was minimal training for teacher’s instruction.
Dr. Martinez stated that
the teachers who had laptops in their classroom had to change their way of
teaching and their role as a teacher. Teachers had to steer away from traditional
teaching and now integrate technology in their lessons. This was challenging for the teachers. Regarding the use of laptops, students can
keep them year-round until they graduate. This was possible because the school had a tracking system. Argentina is also facing a digital divide which
makes it difficult for the poorer students to have access to technology.
What other counties are
facing a “Digital Divide”? Post your comments here!
