The digital divide has been a question experts have been asking for a while now. But recently the issue has not been in the spotlight because policymakers and schools are focused on No Child Left Behind.
Robert Fairlie’s research has shown that only 50% of blacks and 48% of Latinos have a home computer. The same study shows that 75% of whites have access to home computers (Digital Divide affects school success). Fairlie also found that “teenagers who have access to home computers are 6-8% more likely to graduate from high school then teens who lack access to a home computer”. Although this statistic is widely disputed, many outside factors play into the fact that a student does not graduate from high school. These factors would also concur with the reasons students do not have a computer at home. A family who can not afford a computer, is probably also not living in the best area of the city, going to the best school, might have a unique family situation, or the parents may not be well educated. All these factors also play into students not graduating from high schools. Hugh Glenn, of Pepperdine University, “calls Fairlie’s report neither a study or research, but merely a summary of data from previous publications” (Digital Divide affects school success). He thinks that there were too many factors that could have affected Fairlie’s research.
It would seem to make sense that students who do not have access to materials, such as technology would be behind in instruction. But there is no hard evidence about how technology increases academic knowledge. I believe technology motivates students to do work and that if used correctly technology allows students to express their knowledge through multiple intelligences.
The article Digital Divide 2.0, also discusses the misuse of technology in many classrooms- something the technology department in our school is really trying to put an end to. Many teacher are using the computers are glorified worksheets that are skill-and-drill. Technology and the use of computers should allow students to produce work that displays their individual understandings of concepts, not as a tool to ingrain information just to spit it out again. Having access to computers does not mean anything if you are going to use them as a glorified pencil.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=36693&CFID=16661141&CFTOKEN=79907457
http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2007/09/12/02divide.h01.html
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Having access to technology can be a deciding issue to many students. In our society, we are becoming more reliant on technology. This course is a good example. We have to post blogs weekly. In many of my courses, I have had to complete some type of technology requirement. I don't mind because I understand this is a must in today's society. However, as you stated many of our children do not have adequate access to technology. It can be very difficult to complete assignments in schools. Using the word processor is a must in many classrooms in high schools and even elementary. I can recall, my daughter has had to do a few minor research projects in her class and she's in third grade. Giving children access to technology will help them succeed in the classroom and beyond.
ReplyDeleteThe good news is that many libraries have computers for public use. The bad news is some do not have Microsoft Word which is necessary to write a paper. The other bad news is that often times, the computers are already taken; however students can make reservations.
I agree that computers (like most other things) are not useful if you don't use them in the right way. The computer is not exclusively a pencil alternative or email access. There are so many other things that can be done that develop critical thinking skills and real world job skills. (All of those very desired skills we keep talking about in class!)
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