UNLOCKING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

by Lorrie Canas

“All Americans deserve access to educational opportunities that will help them get ahead. We must make it possible for adults to learn at a time, pace, and location that works around the constraints of their daily lives," said Vice President Al Gore. "At a time when what you earn depends on what you learn, we need to promote innovative ways of educating Americans so that they can compete for the high-wage, high-skill jobs that our economy is creating in record numbers."

My students are incarcerated youth between the ages of 14 to 20.  Their sentences vary along with the crimes they have committed.  As of 5/00, 67% came from urban communities, 19% from rural settings and the remainder from the suburbs or neighboring states.  My constant question is how do these students hope to compete with their peers in a society that is becoming technology literate.  Limited access to computers for youth in urban and rural settings, compared to youths in higher economic communities creates an educational disadvantage and further divides students technologically.

For information on the digital divide entitled Falling through the Net http://www.ed.gov/technology/digdiv.html

Since the digital divide is real and increasing in numbers between the “have” and “have-nots” what does this mean to education, the community and the world at large?  This is the avenue I want to explore, plus show several incredible programs in cities across the states that are addressing this dilemma.

There are a number of research articles, web-sites and databases that explore this divide, along with solutions and strategies that will help unlock this dividing gate. My goal is to spark your interest in the hope that more technology programs will be developed.   


We need to be better informed in order to prepare all our children for the world in which they will inherit

 

The EXECUTIVE SUMMARY includes important information and statistics from a 1997-1998 study on this divide.  For example:

The gaps between White and Hispanic households, and between White and Black households, are now approximately five percentage points larger than they were in 1997.

The digital divides based on education and income level have also increased in the last year alone. Between 1997 and 1998, the divide between those at the highest and lowest education levels increased 25 percent, and the divide between those at the highest and lowest income levels grew 29 percent.

This web-site also provides a tool kit with information on bridging this division.
http://www.ed.gov/Technology/tool_kit.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These web-sites reach out to youth in media forms such as: arts, music, and technology.  Their goals are to promote high self-esteem, non-violence and cultural harmony.  Since my students are cast away from the main stream these sites are a welcome opportunity to stay engaged in society, yet through a more peaceful, productive means.  These sites have chat sites where participants have the freedom to explore or discuss anything from problems, musical events and artists, current news and social issues pertinent to youth.  Sites have an administrative feature, which includes editing guidelines that insures topic responses are appropriate.  The discussions I viewed included serious thought and led to further debate among a variety of youth. This can make the cultural division smaller by letting kids discuss similar problems, see their peer’s perspective, and gain insight into their own problems.  Since no one is visual, words can be a very powerful tool.

Read what these sites have to say about their programs:

http://www.shine365

“What is SHiNE365.com? SHiNE365.com is more than just a Web site. We are an interactive community of young people who care about the world and want to make a positive difference. Our site provides information on relevant social and political issues, music and entertainment, news and tons of resources to help you mobilize change in your world. In addition to being the exclusive carrier of The New York Times UpfrontTM magazine, SHiNE365.com is a place where you can connect with other teens, share your views, talk about your life, and locate the information you need to take action. We feature unique on-line celebrity art galleries, reader-produced galleries, exclusive interviews with your favorite stars and original poems and storyboards.
Is SHiNE available in school? Yes! You can become part of the nation-wide network of in-school SHiNE clubs that other teens have launched all throughout the country. In addition, we have direct partnerships with a number of regional Departments of Education, affiliated non-profit education and advocacy organizations and many professional associations. The SHiNE lesson plans and contests are also distributed via Scholastic's Teen Network of Publications, which reach 10 million students each month”.

 

http://streetlevel.iit.edu

 

“While technology has played a key role in our growth and accomplishments, our goal is still a simple one. We want to work with youth rejected by mainstream society and traditional youth agencies, advocating for their needs and pushing them to new heights. We want to show how art and social commentary can meld together on the grassroots level to empower youth. We know that media making demands teamwork and creativity, and builds in youth the critical thinking skills that help them navigate modern times. Our ongoing hope is to create opportunities for young people to find solutions to their problems, to strengthen their communities and work together towards economic viability”.

         

One of the many programs offered is entitled the Technology Access Center.  This unique program “provides community members of all ages with access to computers, the Internet, and information that can help them find jobs, start small businesses, get information on health resources, or receive homework assistance”.

The mission of the Technology Access Center is to put technology to work to increase the economic, social, professional, and educational opportunities of its customers. It accomplishes this by:
1.) Providing community members with access to computer equipment and the Internet, and then helping them to use it successfully.
2.) Creating a useful and comfortable work/study environment where people receive and share technical assistance and computer tips; and
3.) Organizing online and print information that is relevant to the needs and demographic profile of our user base.

Source: www.pluggedin.org 

health resources,

William Benton was a remarkable man who dedicated himself to promoting “the use of digital media to engage, equip and connect people to solve social problems”.

I recommend that you look at the history section of the Benton Foundation, found in the About us section of this web-site.  This information would benefit anyone interested in grant writing or obtaining monies for computer programs for inner city youth.

 

Look at the Urban Youth Empowerment program in Cincinnati, Ohio. This unique program focuses on technology and access to the Information Highway, which offers opportunities and empowerment for urban youth.

The Cyberstars program works to empower by counseling, trying, evaluating, and personalizing the effort. Students come to self-evaluate because they feel comfortable doing so. John Naisbitt has termed this approach as one of "High Tech, High Touch." Learning is a function of individual and group effort in problem solving and critical thinking. The approach is holistic and offers a variety of different strategies that must be used and interpreted by the learner. Students must know where they can go, how to get there, and that they can get there.

 

Source: www.benton.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Access to the Internet, learning techniques for smart surfing, or using the Internet to meet students’ informational needs provides these same students with the ability to compete in the global world. These students gain more knowledge about the function and resources of the web, which their urban and rural counterparts can not hope to match.  This fact needs revision so everyone is included.

 

Read the Introductory letter by William Daley, White House correspondent at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fttn99/contents.html for further information and links.

 

The following ERIC databases include even more research and program ideas for solving the digital divide. Be sure to type in “ed” first, before the six digit number.

 

http://www.consuls.org:83

1 /ed347480.html

 2 /ed368809.html

 3 /ed242801.html

 4 /ed384681.html

                                                                                               

The following Web-sites include homework assistance for students.  Research methods and instructional strategies for teachers are also included.

http://www.thegateway.org  You need to check the boxes for your educational level and topic and this site will provide you with education resources, curriculum units, and other high quality lesson plans.

 

http://www.fastcompany.com/onli  "A lot of people are saying that technology can level the playing field, that it can create opportunity. That doesn't just happen by itself. It takes a lot of hard work. Our job is to realize that change for our community," by Sara Terry.  In this site you will also find more programs geared toward youth, along with ideas and suggestions for implementation.

 

 For Programming and/or grant writing purposes:

 

http://www.stw.ed.gov/  This site provides hot topics,  current features, links for teachers and their students, and in the STW (School to Work) section, grant information.

 

www.edsitement.neh.gov  Rich in content, the 49 web sites feature well developed lesson plans for teaching English, history, and the foreign languages.  Reinforcement of learning through the participation of in-school activities and use of the Internet can be found in the EDSITEment resource section.

 

http://www.dlrn.org This final web site can be utilized to gain information about designing a distance learning program, grant options and accredited courses.

 

We need to reach for the stars so all of our students, not just a select group, can grow to their true potential.