Social+Issues

=The Digital Divide=


 * What is it?:** //Digital divide// is a term used to describe the disconnect between people that have access to new technologies, and those who do not. But it goes deeper than that. //Digital divide// also describes the resources, skills, knowledge, and abilities that people using the new technologies possess as opposed to those who do not.


 * Who is it affecting?:** Everyone. The digital divide address all people ranging from those who use new information and communication tools to those who do not.

Variables effecting the digital divide

 * Gender:** Females are at a disadvantage when compared to males and the use of new technologies. The differences in technology use due to gender have been attributed to the socialization patterns of boys versus girls. Historically, females are often not as encouraged as males to persue interest and careers in technological fields. This may lead some females to develop computer anxiety, or the fear of the seemingly complex workings of a computer. Computer anxiety leads to differences in computer attitudes and performance between males and females.


 * Socio Economic:** When comparing technology use and socioeconomic status, it is obvious that the presence of either a computer or a computer with internet access is directly linked to household income. If a family has to choose between access to the internet or putting food on the table for a month, their choice would be obvious. And although students may attend a school that has the resources that would allow them to be exposed to them, there isn't much time allotted in the school day for these students to explore these technologies.

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 * Race:** The chart below shows the percentage of each of the following races that have a household computer and that have internet access. If you would like to maximize it, please just simply click on it.


 * Resource Equity:** Resource equity deals with the fairness of the distribution of resources. It's no surprise that the schools who serve a student population with a higher socioeconomic status have more money available to ensure that their students are exposed to many new technologies that make both teaching and learning more efficient. This is not to say, however, that giving schools more money is going to automatically solve the digital divide crisis. Teachers continuing the technology aspect of their education is necessary, because then that teacher's knowledge is a resource available to her students.


 * Teacher Bias:** Teachers who have been teaching in the field for a substantial amount of time and who haven't had training in new technologies will more than likely be unenthusiastic about both encouraging their students to learn how to use new technologies and allowing their students to use what they have learned in the classroom.

What can you do to shorten the digital divide in your classroom?
It is your duty as an educator to make sure that you overcome the above variables in your classroom. Teachers should pair both male with female and unsure with enthusiastic students together when working with new technologies and monitor the pairs to make sure that both student in the pair gets equal time and encouragement. To make this pairing more effective, teachers should require a minimum amount of time be spent working with new technologies each week and should monitor students progress and weaknesses and address both. Teachers can be available afterschool to supervise students in a computer lab to provide extra time and use to the students who don't have a computer or the internet in their home. Teachers should make themselves aware of the different grants that are offered and should familiarize themselves with writing these grants to provide their students with the technologies that will help them succeed. On a higher level, schools should reach out to local organizations and businesses to find some that would be willing to donate either money to purchase new materials, or computers and software. Last but not least, teachers should dedicate themselves to continuing their technology education, and should never get comfortable having adequate knowledge about a new technology but should rather strive to know everything that there is to know about it.