Journal 4

Mind the Gap; It's a high-speed, high-def, Wi-Fi world. But not for everybody, Cindy Long, NEAToday Technology Divide, March 2008

Most students today are so digitally connected that it's hard to imagine that there are still 30 million American homes that do not have a computer. Most of these homes are at or below the poverty level. The educational disadvantages are onerous for the students growing up having computer access only at their school or the local library. These students do not have time to explore the Internet and find out all that this digital age has to offer. They have to concentrate on how to use the computer instead of how to learn the lessons.

Teachers across the country are finding ways to get their students the Internet access they need to better their education. In Nevada, one teacher used the older computers that the school was getting rid of to pilot a 1:1 laptop program. His students will not be technologically-challenged when they go off to high school.

A small rural community was transformed by access to high-speed Internet. Only 14% of their students went off to college before the Internet access, now 78% go to college.

It is apparent through these and other stories in this article that access to the Internet has the power to change the future, especially for disadvantaged students. It's up to us to get it into their hands.

Question 1: Should Internet access be available throughout the United States regardless of income?

Answer: The answer is a simple and resounding yes, the logistics are the difficult part. Older computer donations and rural Internet access is one way to start. After school centers are another answer.

Question: How can we as educators insure computer access to all of our students?

Answer: We can make our computer labs available during after school and before school hours. We can also partner with the local libraries for basic computer classes for all students.