There is little doubt that the world that we live in is rapidly becoming a world where technology skills are essential for everyday life and future employment opportunities for our students. Providing students with technology in the classroom is one way that the education system can assist students with becoming familiar and confident using technology. However, it would be wrong to believe that all students will have equal access to the technology needed at home to keep up with their studies.
The article “Bridging the Digital Divide”, written by Tim Harrell, discusses the “Computers for Learning” program in Austin Texas http://www.computers-for-learning.org/ which put a program into place that can assist in bridging the digital divide. Volunteers at Computers for learning refurbish computers that have been donated by businesses and individuals and place them in the homes of economically disadvantaged students, along with dial-up internet access. This program has provided an opportunity to bridge the divide between the financially underprivileged and those families who can afford the access to technology without affecting the bottom line budget for government and school districts.

Do you think that a program similar to “Computers for Learning” would make a difference in the school district you are in?

Here are some links that may help you understand the digital divide:
http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/02-03-wt2/www/J_Voon/index.htm
http://www.web.net/~robrien/papers/digdivide.html
http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/Statcan/56F0009X/56F0009XIE.html

- Tara Owens

Technology use in the classroom is consistently rising everywhere in North America, yet the gap between rich and poor remains large. The article, Bridging the Digital Divide, introduces us to the divide between economic disparity and prosperity and how that effects students who are required to complete projects and homework using technology. In Texas a program has been developed to provide students, whose families cannot afford it, with computers and the devices to set up the Internet. "Computers for Learning" is raising funds from local and national businesses to equip students across Texas with the technology to be successful in this technological world. http://www.computers-for-learning.org/

With this program more than 1,300 students have benefited from the program receiving computers and Internet services. The program continues to grow and receives help at the municipal, state, and federal levels. Creating a program to help students receive this technology is helping teachers to enhance their teaching and reach a variety of learners.

Is the digital divide a prominent problem in the placements you have been involved in?

Here are some links that provide some interesting information regarding the Digital Divide around the world:

http://www.digitaldivide.net/

http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/56F0009XIE/56F0009XIE2002001.pdf

(This is a report on Canadian Digital Divide statistics)

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/030623/d030623b.htm

- Sara Anderson