What is the status of the digital divide?
There is a divide between students who have access to technology and those that do not. There has been progress made in closing the gap, but there is still an unfair divide between technology haves and have-nots. There are two strategies that can help close the divide. One strategy is increasing funding through parent groups, industry partnerships, fundraising, and budgeting to improve access to technology. The other is teacher professional development. Through professional development teachers can create equitable access and help students use technology in a way that suits their individual needs.
Information cited from Bitter, G. & Legacy, J. (2008). Using Technology in the Classroom. Pearson: Boston.
I think approaching local businesses for funding for technology is a great idea. Toward the end of their fiscal year, businesses are looking to donate money to non-profit organizations for tax write offs. If that money could be used for technology, we may help shrink the gap.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely a dividing line between those who have access to technology and those who do not have this access. I feel as though the funding to provide technology for those students who are not able to access technology regularly is a hot topic. I also like Heather's comment about approaching local businesses to donate money to provide technology for those less fortunate students.
ReplyDeleteIt seems unusual that there are students who do not have access to technology now a days but the truth is that a number of the students do not have access to technology. We could encourage these students to use libraries as much as possible in order to access the computers there.
ReplyDeleteHi Christie
ReplyDeleteI agree there are too many students that fall in the have-nots' when it comes to technology! Just in Caroline County alone I have seen a big difference. Greensboro Elem. has very few computers and Smart Boards in their classrooms; where as Denton Elem. is making great progress in having this technology into theirs. The gap needs to stop if we want all children to succeed.
Cindy
I think this divide is closing, just as you said. More and more students are accessing technology than ever before. Many younger students have a better grip on technology than I do! The strategies you mentioned do seem like they would be effective in narrowing the divide even further. Technology is not cheap, and any resources that can be recruited are extremely helpful.
ReplyDeleteNarrowing the gap between students and technology is so important and like you mentioned it really is becoming increasingly smaller. So many kids are becoming so savvy that they even exceed their parents abilities.
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