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
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
4 comments:
Personally I have not been in a school where this program would need to be used, but I absolutely think that there are schools out there that would benefit from this type of program! Great idea!!!
I agree, I think that this kind of program could be a huge benefit, but it would need to be placed in the right district in order to ensure that it really is working to bridge the digital divide. There are obviously some districts that could use this program more than others so it would be important to study the socio-economics of the area before implementation.
P.S the above post was made by Tara. Owens :)
Great point! We wouldn't want to be making the technological divide even bigger by giving a school that really didn't need the computers an even bigger advantage over a school that really needed them. It would be important to study the socio-economics of the area before choosing the appropriate schools to use the computers, as you said :)
So how are you enjoying blogging? Do you think you'd make your own personal one now that you know what it's about?
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