The “Digital Divide” is the gap between those who have proper and appropriate access to and benefit from digital technology and those who do not. “Technology Rich” vs. “Technology Poor” Although worldwide, each country has their own Digital Divide as well.

 Lack of Infrastructure available  Lack of accessibility in developing worlds  Affordability issues › Lack of proper devices

 The least “connected”, otherwise known as the “information underclass” are: › Low income> Single parent households › Minorities> Little education › Disabled> Central Cities, Extreme Rural  Those with access use technology more effectively, benefit from it, and therefore become even more privileged.  Not necessarily caused by choice, but lack of proper infrastructure to provide connections

 Began with lack of technology in districts that were rural, had minority students, and were low income › Low Income (1997): 9 students to every 1 computer › High Income (1997): 6 students to every 1 computer  Ratio of students to Instructional computers in 1998 was By 2008, the ratio had dropped to 3.1 (NCES)

 By 2008, schools with 75% or more students receiving free or reduced-price lunch had a 3.2 student to computer ratio compared to that of 3.1 with schools that had 35% or less students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.  Usage: › Low Income schools: 83% of teachers say computes are used for basic skills › High Income schools: 63% reported the same, however, students were more likely to use computers for research, writing, communication with peers, and presentation preparation.

 Not necessarily by access to internet, but Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), or infrastructure.  Underdeveloped nations lack appropriate infrastructure for access to internet. › Once Infrastructure is in place, access is relatively cheap  Countries suffering the most from access: › Sub-saharan countries in Africa, South America, and Asia  Creates the divide between developed and underdeveloped nations even more

 Important because: › Economic Equality> Democracy › Social Mobility> Economic Growth  Challenging because: › Social & Legal > Literacy & Language constraints> Computer Resources › Economic Priorities> Personal Choice › Basic Infrastructure  What must we do? › Create the infrastructure to make ICT available  Long Term Investment › Obtaining proper connections and appropriate devices

 Cartoon: om/2010/05/digital-divide-tale-of-two- school.html om/2010/05/digital-divide-tale-of-two- school.html  Video: _vXUptY _vXUptY

 pdf pdf   de.htm de.htm  reports-on-technology-in-us-schools-the- changing-divide/ reports-on-technology-in-us-schools-the- changing-divide/  psa2000dig.pdf psa2000dig.pdf  /no1/pirofski.html /no1/pirofski.html