What is the Digital Divide?
The Digital Divide is the lack of access to information that is essential to lives of the poor. It is a reason for the widespread poverty in the developing world and is the technologically rich versus the technologically poor. The digital divide is the developed versus the developing, those who have internet and resources compared to those who do not. 88% of internet users are in industrial countries, but that only makes up 15% of the world. It is the division of those who have technology and those who do not.
How are people trying to close the Digital Divide?
Some companies and groups of people are trying to close the digital divide by sending news to those underprivileged countries while others are donating the hardware. Some say that in order to close the Digital Divide we must build an enterprise ecosystem offering end to end solutions for the poor. Some say that we need to formalize the informal economy with technology to bring the poor into established markets. By using new technologies we are empowering the poor just as they now empower the rich.
How might the Digital Divide show up in my classroom and how will I address it?
The Digital Divide may show up in my classroom in many ways. One way that I can think of is through the use of computers for assignments and homework. Not all families have the technology of a computer or have the access to one at all outside of school. This creates a problem because it is dividing those who have the resource and money from those who do not. I can deal with this problem by incorporating computer work in my daily routine in my classroom for those who are unable to use the technology otherwise. I can have my students work in groups with a ratio of 2 students per computer so that everyone can have the peer interaction while still completing work necessary.
Resources:
Edutopia-Digital Divde-Where We Are Today
Digital Divide Institute
