Before I started researching this topic, I had no idea what it means. After reading many articles about digital divide, I really got an idea what it is all about. I found it really important and interesting topic in today’s world. First, I will compare digital divide to digital inequality, and than I will offer a few ideas how to overcome digital inequality in our schools today.
Following are quoted definitions of digital divide and digital inequality according to DiMaggio and Hargittai:
Digital divide – quality between “haves” and “have-nots” differentiated by dichotomous measures of access to or use of the new technologies (DiMaggio, P., & Hargittai, E., 2001).
Digital inequality – not just differences in access, but also to inequality among persons with formal access to the Internet (DiMaggio, P., & Hargittai, E., 2001).
According to the report “Computer and Internet use by Students in 2003” statistics about usage of internet among people in the United States, it is clear, that we should not only care about the digital divide, but also about the digital inequality
. The numbers show that almost every American has access to the Internet somewhere – at school, at work, at home, or at public libraries. The problem we face today is that many people are not familiar with the Internet, they do not know how to use it effectively. Moreover, everyone uses different equipment which means unequal experience for the users. DiMaggio and Hargittai offer five dimensions of digital inequality in their report – in equipment, autonomy of use, skill, social support, and the purposes for which the technology is employed (DiMaggio, P., & Hargittai, E., 2001).
Of course it is not an easy task to overcome digital inequality. It will be a problem of the future. But there are certain ways which may help today. From the five dimensions stated above, I would like to address the inequality of skill. It is important for the users to have good computer and Internet skills to be able to achieve tasks efficiently and effectively. One way to make sure that our kids acquired these skills is to first educate our teachers. “Internet use in schools is limited by weakness in training and support staffing, which has made it difficult for teachers to integrate the Internet effectively with other curricular materials” (Bolt & Crawford 2000). Schools should offer mandatory computer and Internet training for all teachers. Also, curriculum for those studying teaching should include mandatory educational technology classes. Once the teachers are able to bring the technology to the classrooms and share the knowledge with students, half of the task is done.
References
Bolt D, Crawford R. 2000. Digital Divide: Computers and Our Children’s Future. NY: TV Books.
Computer and Internet Use by Students in 2003. (2006). Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2006065
DiMaggio, P., & Hargittai, E. (2001). From the ‘digital divide’ to ‘digital inequality:’ Studying Internet use as penetration increases. Princeton University Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies, Working Paper Series number, 15. Retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/~arts…gittai.pdf
Michaela Pacesova: EDTECH Learning Log 