There is no doubt that technology is becoming more apart of our every day lives and is used in the workplace, at home, for fun, and even at school with young students. At first glance this may seem like a great opportunity for our country to grow and discover more about our world (and I believe it is) but then we must ask ourselves, what about the many people who don’t have access, do they get left behind? The issue of not only who has access to the Internet and technology but also who has access to high quality instructors is commonly known as the digital divide and affects every person on our planet differently. (Wikipedia) gives a definition of the digital divide as “the gap between people with effective access to digital and information technology and those with very limited or no access at all. It includes the imbalance both in physical access to technology and the resources and skills needed to effectively participate as a digital citizen.” The digital divide also looks at geographic regions that do not have access to the Internet and how it plays a part in their life (Broadband Map). This blog is designed to look at all angles of the issue of “accessibility of technology” and how it is shaping our society and more specifically in schools.
Here is a powerpoint giving a brief overview of "Accessibility of Technology"
As previously mentioned, this problem impacts individuals uniquely, yet it crucial to bridge the gap between the divide so every person can have the same opportunities to succeed. Technology definitely has its advantages and is used to better organize and easily access information but a problem arises when government aid applications are online and a low-income family doesn’t have a computer in their home. This is only one example of how technology is a double-edged sword and is another resource that is not equally shared worldwide. When examining how the digital divide is seen in schools we see districts in wealthier neighborhoods with more advanced machines such as Smartboards, projectors, and document cameras, while poor districts struggle to provide a computer in every classroom.
To summarize, the digital divide has become very apparent and is only growing with a rate technology is expanding and must be addressed. Technology is needed to be successful in higher education and in most careers and should be equally accessible regardless of race, socioeconomic class, and geographic region.
