Digital Divide

What is it?

Digital Divide

• noun • the gap between those who have

computers with Internet access and those who do not, as well as the gap between those who are computer literate and those who are not

Ahead or behind?

• Which are you??

Ahead or behind?

• The digital divide is a place. It is real and it is that place existing between having technology and not having technology.

• It is not a math problem• It DOES affect society’s ability to

teach all levels equally and effectively.

Ahead or behind?

• In many circles it is described even further by one’s connectivity level.

• “I have 4G LTE, what do you have?

• I have cable internet, it is faster than your dial up.

Socioeconomic factors

• A Pew study made a correlation that showed the lower the income of a home, the more likely it was that the members of that home relied on a smartphone as their primary source of connectivity.

Connectivity or productivity?

• Students from lower income families relying on smartphones for internet had a lower likelihood of actually turning in a writing assignment. Connectivity does not mean productivity.

Smartphone saavy?

• One teacher estimated that 9 of 10 students did not have internet access at home or did not even have a computer.

• BUT......• Students still created

presentations for the assignments using smartphone apps. Creativity was not beaten by lack of connectivity

Tech Saavy

• Many teachers report that even though students are masters at social media like Facebook and Twitter, they still cannot create a simple PowerPoint presentation.

Paradigm?

• Are we witnessing a new Paradigm in progress?

Possibly....

• Smartphone technology is still very young

• App Makers are struggling with desktop compatibility

• Teachers struggle with smartphone compatible content.

What it IS

• An expression of the highest level of connectivity as compared to the lowest level of connectivity.

• The White House has said that the basic minimum access speed that is acceptable, is 3mb/s

What it is NOT

• It is NOT an indicator of student intelligence

• It is NOT an indicator of creativity

• It is NOT a measure of one’s dedication to education.

TAKE THE SURVEY AND TELL US IF YOU ARE ON THE FRONT OF THE DIVIDE, THE REAR OF THE DIVIDE, OR IF YOU HAVE SIMPLY FALLEN IN.

Survey

Thanks for Reading!