The Effects of the Digital Divide

Our class discussion and the article about interactive white boards led to thoughts regarding student achievement in relation to technology. One problem I identified when commenting about the critical review of interactive white boards is the lack of accessibility teachers and students have to technology in poor districts. If teachers can engage students and enhance collaborative learning in the classroom through technology, what can teachers do in areas where the district cannot afford these expensive, extravagant means to teaching? How are these kids with minimal access to technology learning? It makes me wonder, if technology notably enhances student learning, achievement, and motivates them to do well, could lack of technology in poor districts contribute to poor performance? Can instructors who are forced to cling to old methods of teaching motivate and interest their students without technology? Although educators prior to the digital age may have proved their methods to be effective, we live in a technologically innovative society where a new product is always introduced. If students do not have access to these new, exciting ways to learn, their academic performance most likely will be lower than their technologically-advanced peers who show enthusiasm for learning.

I began to think about how this digital divide in our nation will affect me as a future educator. I want to teach English, and in my classrooms, students will most likely be expected to type essays, research papers, and homework assignments. Although I would accept handwritten assignments, most teachers nowadays require students to type their work. If I get a job in a poor district where the computer-to-student ratio is less than desirable and students do not have computers at home because their families cannot afford to have them, how can I expect them to develop their computer skills, require them to type assignments, and communicate with them through email? Not having access to basic technology these days may impede student progress as well as my goals as a teacher. We discuss implementing technology into the classrooms, and we have been debriefed on many educational tools that exceed the basics such as Microsoft Word, Excel, etc., but what can we do when these resources are unavailable? Can we move away from old methods like chalkboards, lectures, and pencil/paper methods and progress toward effective teaching without technology?

Although the digital divide is an issue in America, it is a severe problem in Cambodia. I have a friend who went abroad this year to teach in Cambodia. She gave up teaching after only a few short weeks because she could not adapt to their educational structure. She relies on technology to teach, and she had minimal experience prior to her visit, therefore, she lacked the confidence to find a solution for her problem. She couldn’t recall a time she didn’t have a computer in her classroom or taught a lesson without Power Point. Not only do they not have access to technology where she taught, but they lacked the skills to operate technology in general. They are not exposed to technology at all, and the lives they live because of this completely contrasts to my friend’s lifestyle in America. She ended up finding a different job and staying in Cambodia for the year, but she gave up teaching because of the significant differences in schools. The culture shock had a negative impact on her teaching experience, but it can have a positive impact on other educators who embrace the challenge. For instance, I travelled to Paris a couple summers ago. One of the greatest differences between French and American culture that I noticed is the French’s lack of dependence on technology. People converse without checking their phones, and their interactions seem more meaningful because of this. If I were to teach in Paris, I would not worry about my students getting distracted by electronics because it is not as crucial in their culture. This would be a benefit to teaching abroad for me. Digital divide or not, educators need to make the best of their situation and adapt to their school’s limitations and/or availability of resources, therefore, we cannot rely solely on technology to teach, but if we have access to it, we should creatively utilize it!