Running head: THE DIGITAL DIVIDE 1

The Digital Divide

Natasha Hook

Professor Odalis Taveres

EDU352

June 15, 2017

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The Digital Divide

Issues in educational technology are constantly emerging and actively being

addressed. However, this does not eliminate the impact it has on both teachers and students in

the learning process while solutions are being sought after. The topic I chose to discuss is the

Digital Divide. This issue has been ongoing since the 90s and its focus has shifted

occasionally as we reach new developments about it. I believe it is a very important topic

because it impacts so many areas of education to include student accommodation, content

delivery and application, college and career readiness, processing, and so much more. As we

shift to higher possibilities with using technology it cannot be ignored that some students are

at a disadvantage due to means beyond their control.

The Digital Divide refers to the inequalities between people who have access to

technology and those who do not have access or chose not to have access. The digital divide

has evolved beyond access to technology and has expanded to include inequalities in

technology skills and how it is used (Rogers, 2016). What this means is that the divide is not

just about access to funding and higher social classes. It additionally refers to those who do

not have an interest in using it because they do not see the value in it along with those who do

not use it appropriately and fail to develop skills for using it to assist in their education and

career. Therefore, we can add lack of interest along with ethnic, geographic, economic, and

societal factors that contribute to the divide.

The demand for technology in schools is increasing even though the budgets are

continuing to dwindle down. This is one focus that is currently being addressed as different

programs are working to provide free devices to schools, if they will accept them. To bridge

future digital divides, schooling policy needs to focus on developing student digital capability

and preparing all future citizens to be able to participate in a digital world (Starkey,

Sylvester, & Johnstone, 2017). Technology is such a powerful thing to have in our everyday
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life, which makes it a necessary component to incorporate into education. However, we need

to overcome the full scale of all factors and not just point fingers towards funding. Instead,

we also need to prove its value and teach and train users and teachers to use it with ease to

avoid creating a dislike for technology. A few sites that are useful for learning more about the

digital divide are as follows:

https://prezi.com/tkxaetwwqd16/how-does-the-digital-divide-affect-the-education-
system/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2016/01/28/the-real-digital-divide-in-educational-
technology/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

http://www.digitalresponsibility.org/digital-divide-the-technology-gap-between-rich-and-
poor/ (Links to an external site.)
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References

Rogers, S. (2016). Bridging the 21st Century Digital Divide. Techtrends: Linking Research &

Practice to Improve Learning, 60(3), 197-199. doi:10.1007/s11528-016-0057-0

Starkey, L., Sylvester, A., & Johnstone, D. (2017). Negotiating Digital Divides: Perspectives

From the New Zealand Schooling System. Journal Of Research On Technology In

Education, 49(1/2), 31-42.

doi:10.1080/1539https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?so

urce=1uOVwBl5jL69vK1523.2017.1292161