The Divide is Real
February 25, 2008 by Kate Olson
I just received my print edition of NEA Today and the cover story was “Digital Divide: Mind the Gap“. I immediately read the article and sent out a tweet about the online version. This article is a must-read for any teacher who considers technology in education to be an important issue. Many of the teachers in my PLN are so immersed in high-speed access that it’s easily forgotten that some in our very own state or country might not be so fortunate.
I have to admit, I was one of the less-connected up until this December. I was previously a stay-at-home mom to 2 in a 1 income family and I live in a VERY rural area. Broadband is not available at my 40-acre homestead, and to those of you who ask why I would live in such a spot, here it is: I value nature, solitude, and all that it brings for my family over high-speed telecommunications. That being said, my dial-up connection (for $10.95/month) just didn’t cut it when I started teaching and wanted to work on my classroom blog and network with other teachers at home. I work only half-time and need to be able to do my prep work at home, as do most teachers. This December our family made the decision that it is worth the $75/month for HughesNet satellite internet so I am able to stay connected to my edtech world (I still can’t Skype, though - upload speed too slow) and keep up with the necessary advances in technology for my students.
Is it worth it? I think so. If our financial situation changes, will we be able to afford the $75/month? No way. Am I willing to move to get cheaper high-speed access? Not a chance. Would losing high-speed access affect my ability to do my job and my children’s ability to keep up with schoolwork and peers in the future? No doubt about it. Just something to think about…………..
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Beyond the haves and have nots, there’s a more complex element of the digital divide whereby students in affluent schools use computers for programming and creativity and those in low-income schools are using it for remediation.
I know there are so very many pressing needs in the world but just think if somehow, someone with incredibly deep pockets decided that the concept of “equal access to technology” was worth investing in.
How do we decide where that sits as a priority when weighed against hunger, poverty, health needs, etc.?
I am not sure.
Maybe it means that we, as people advocating technology, go out our way to help students in under-served districts to use the emerging tools for education. We may not always be invited in so if we wait for administrators, it may never happen.
We may need to find strategies to work our way in.
Just a thought and one that I try to deal with in my work with the Western Massachusetts Writing Project, where we have been using federal grant money through the National Writing Project to create online writing spaces for middle school kids in rural and urban centers hit hard by a downturn in economics.
Thanks for the post and the link to the article.
Kevin
I have yet to read that article (long to do list this week!). That is so apparent here in Western PA. There are many students who do not have much let alone any support at home for school work, thinking skills, etc. There are definite students who are haves but out-numbered by those have nots. We are a classrooms for the future school who is hoping to go one-to-one though a lot of hurdles must be met and questions answered.
I also have used Hughes.net and now use a Sprint wireless card (acts like a cell phone but powers a wireless router for the house). We live in the middle of nowhere and have about 100 acres. Like you, I love nature and would not give it up and the trade offs involved are worth it! As a science teacher, I am trying to balance technology and conservationism at the same time.
Great post!