Do you get a whole lot of ‘junk’ email in your inbox? Some of it you look at, some you download and some – well, you just press the delete button. I recently opened up an email entitled: SCHOOL BUS. The pictures attached took me aback.
school bus in Japan
school bus in Pakistan
The sheer juxtaposition of a school bus in Japan and a school bus in Pakistan got me thinking about the digital divide and how this affects education. The term digital divide has been coined to describe the division between those that have access to technology and those that do not. In March 2009, an estimated 1.5 billion people, some 23.8% of the world's population (6.7 billion), had Internet access (Nielson Online). It is sobering to reflect that the majority of the world’s population does not have access to the technology that promises to make learning opportunities more widely available than ever before. The vast majority is effectively excluded.
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
Surveys of internet use, points to the digital divide as an increasingly important feature of the growing economic and political gaps within and across 'developed' and 'developing' countries.There are various arguments regarding the impacts digital divide have on society and economy. DiBello (2005) addressed the implications of the digital divide and categorised concerns into four main themes:
Educational and Employment Advantages: Some believe that students who are technologically savvy have significant advantages over their peers. They are ahead of the learning curve, and can focus more on the objective issues. Those on the other side of the divide, however will need to focus on technological issues, such as how to create a table in Word, how to use the mouse, how to use a search engine, etc. This in turn will affect their job prospects as employers prefers workers who are technologically competent and are willing to pay more for their services compared to those without.
Economic Growth: Some think that not having access to digital resources might hinder the opportunity that people in undeveloped countries have for economic growth. With much of the world economy currently driven by information and communication technology sectors, countries that are not part of this sector are disadvantaged.
Opportunities for Social and Civic Involvement: Some believe that people who regularly use the Internet are better aware informed about national issues and developmental matters. Therefore, they are given a voice to participate, whether it is in civic activities or on a global scale.
Equity and Civil Rights Issues: Some think that access to technology is often readily available for those in a higher socioeconomic group, while leaving behind those in the lower socioeconomic groups, resulting in equity and civil rights issues.
Educational and Employment Advantages: Some believe that students who are technologically savvy have significant advantages over their peers. They are ahead of the learning curve, and can focus more on the objective issues. Those on the other side of the divide, however will need to focus on technological issues, such as how to create a table in Word, how to use the mouse, how to use a search engine, etc. This in turn will affect their job prospects as employers prefers workers who are technologically competent and are willing to pay more for their services compared to those without.
Economic Growth: Some think that not having access to digital resources might hinder the opportunity that people in undeveloped countries have for economic growth. With much of the world economy currently driven by information and communication technology sectors, countries that are not part of this sector are disadvantaged.
Opportunities for Social and Civic Involvement: Some believe that people who regularly use the Internet are better aware informed about national issues and developmental matters. Therefore, they are given a voice to participate, whether it is in civic activities or on a global scale.
Equity and Civil Rights Issues: Some think that access to technology is often readily available for those in a higher socioeconomic group, while leaving behind those in the lower socioeconomic groups, resulting in equity and civil rights issues.
Do you have any ideas, thoughts, viable solutions to the digital divide? What are some implications for us as teachers? for students? for international education? I welcome your comments to this blog.
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