The Darkness of the Digital Divide

The Darkness of the Digital Divide

Christy Fobert

EDU 304

Instructor Reardon

5-7-13

Could you imagine life without cell phones, computers, television, or any other technology? Some families cannot afford these luxuries, and it makes them part of the digital divide.

The digital divide is the lack of opportunity for those to access technology against those who do have the opportunity. The digital divide in basic terms id those people who don't have access to modern technology like computers, internet, and other technological advances. With the digital divide being a problem it hurts those who don't have access now, and it hurts their futures.

Studies show that students that tend to use computers for basic needs, such as word processing have lower income. Though students that use computers for more sophisticated things like multi-faceted and intellectual applications show a high income. Also students that have used technology early are more comfortable using it. Those who have had little technological skills are behind their peers, and it takes extra time to help them advance in these skills. This also makes the other children that are advanced in using technology have to learn these skills, and that sets them as far back as the less advanced children.

The digital divide relates to diversity because students from different cultures or countries may not have enough expenses to be able to have technological things in their household. This leads to an issue because they are made fun of, and teachers have to reteach the skills for the less advanced students. In American classrooms teachers will be teaching students from all around the globe, and there is no way to create a technology rich curriculum for teachers to address every student. Though it would help if they could at least understand the different perspectives each student has and that would solve a huge issue in the digital divide.

The ramifications for students would be that some students will not be able to complete a computer-dependent assignment outside of school due to this diversity. Also teachers could offer alternatives to this situation, but then the outcome can result in differences in learning the same exact thing. Another ramification is that teachers assigning work to be done at home on the internet. This may make some children who don't have access feel uncomfortable, and they may not want to tell the teacher in fear that the other children may make fun of them. In the near future I believe the government needs to help those households with obtaining internet access, so that all children can have the opportunity to learn in the technologically