What is the Digital Divide? According to the International Telecommunications Union, (Digital Divide: What it is and why it matters) "Digital Divide" refers to the gap between those who benefit from digital technology and those who do not. This website explains socioeconomics reflecting on the benefits of technology on the wealthy in contrast to lower income people. The following is suggested: “Thus giving to the poor digital technology that has been designed for the rich may actually add to the causes of poverty and accelerate the exodus of the rural poor into cities already bursting at the seams. “ (Digital Divide: What it is and why it matters) This is true if there is a lack of education that supports the technology, and a lack of cultural understanding by the educators.
As a leader in educational technology it is my responsibility to support the school systems, the education associations, and the communities to push for improvements in quality education, and in quality technology resources. Equal access to technology needs to be provided, and so must the quality of education to utilize the technology.
In providing a quality education, it means that there must be an understanding and appreciation of the cultural and societal differences. Dr. Thornburg (2009) states, “When bringing in technologies to other countries, we must understand the cultures to see what technologies are appropriate given their realities. In all of our studies as educators we have learned that in order to make a difference in the level of learning that a student acquires, we must draw from their prior knowledge and their cultures. When students see how a lesson or a topic affects their lives, they will appreciate how to benefit from the emerging technology. It shows them that the emerging technology is not taking anything away from them or making them compromise their livelihood. It is here in my role as a leader in educational technology that I must make learning and the learning of technology (or with technology) meaningful to diverse students—to all students.
I really like the quote by William Gibson: “The future arrived; it just wasn't equally distributed.” I can’t help but think that; “ Education arrived; it just isn’t equally distributed,” is a quote that the former cannot exist without.
Thornburg, D. D. (2009). Diversity and globalism. [Vodcast]. Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4199715&Survey=1&47=5797856&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Digital Divide: What it is and why it matters. (n.d.). Retrieved August 22, 2010, from Digitial Divide.org Ushering in the Second Revolution: http://www.digitaldivide.org/digitaldivide.html
Regina,
ReplyDeleteHow insightful! I particularly appreciate your comments about the appropriate applications of technologies for a given culture or socioeconomic status. What holds value and works for me, may be superfluous to someone else. We must identify the needs of a community and then suggest ways that technology can help, not the other way around. Perhaps the most powerful statement was your response to the Telecommunications Union about the digital divide. Certainly, technology can become a drain on a culture, but that assumption smacks of elitism and bigotry. It seems no different than ... "if we let women vote" or "if we integrate our schools...." Astonishing! Your reasoned response about the value of education and community support is a much more tenable solution.
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ReplyDeleteRegina,
ReplyDeleteYou hit the hammer on the nail, I too believe that educators must draw from prior knowledge and cultural backgrounds. Educational backgrounds of students are very diverse today. Most cultures have different viewpoints on needs and neccessities, especially with technology. Teaching at a Title I school has opened my eyes. More students are not concerned with homework or completing tasks that can better them, but on survival tactics (babies raising babies)when they attend home.
As educators we can not expect each child to navigate a website or even actually work a computer on their own. As educators we have to prepare them with skills and the necessary knowledge to be successful by including technology throughout our lessons. The 21st century has caused individuals to live in this false mindset that everyone has everything. How can we break this cycle?
Regina, I agree we must find a way to allow more students access to technology. It is sad that spending in education on what is considered a luxury has all but come to a complete standstill. As we listen to the news and hear how many teachers are losing jobs and schools are closing. We have a society that claim to value education, but they don't want to put their money behind that claim. We as a society need to have a decision about where we want out educational system to go and possibly come up with a way of making technology available to all. Establishing computer labs in the community centers or somewhere accessible may be a start.
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