Digital Divide - Why technology?
Last semester I read an interesting study called Virtual Inequality: Beyond the Digital Divide which focuses on the issue of the digital divide. In this research study, the premise is that there is more to the digital divide than just access (Do I have a computer?, and Do I have Internet access?). The definition is not so narrow, and needs to be broadened to include skills, economic opportunity, and participation in democracy.
“Access is undeniably important, but the real policy question is how well society will be able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by technology.”
As I read the section on the skills divide, I couldn’t help but see the parallel to education. Education really does reflect society as a whole, especially in the area of technology skills. We are not doing a very good job of providing our students with technology skill. (I would argue that most of their skill is self-taught at home). And, most importantly, we are not providing the technology skill (professional development) for teachers. Could this have a disastrous impact years from now? Are we contributing towards a skill divide of sorts in our schools? If teachers do not have the skills, how will the students fair? Schools should be the first place that we see skill development (technical and pedagogical), but instead we are lagging behind—education is one of the last.
“Just as widespread education raises the level of human capital in the economy, so do critical technology skills that are increasingly important throughout the economy.”
Education should be a social issue, not solely an economic one. It should be about how education can benefit society and the students we serve, not about money (not enough seems to be the perpetual excuse).
This all came to mind today as I was thinking about some of my previous posts. Some of the questions I kept coming back to were, “Well, why technology?” and “Can’t we do all of this without technology?” The answer is yes, but do we do a disservice to students and teachers when the rest of the world so effectively utilizes technology while we maintain the status quo of the last century? Are we in effect contributing toward the digital divide? What will the consequences be?
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