Digital Divide Research Analysis

The Digital Divide is a controversial issue in the field of education. Throughout my research I have found that a large amount of articles and reports agree that there is, in fact a Digital Divide. But what is the Digital Divide and how do we fix it becomes the controversial component.   

Some researchers such as the Australian Institute of Social Research (2006) believe that the Digital Divide can be defined as the gap between those who have access and apply those technologies and those who do not have access. This is an issue that many people today try to resolve as shown in the YouTube clip called OWD: How can you overcome the digital Divide

OWD: How Can You Overcome Digital Divide? retrieved by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syfpqZn1ysY , viewed on 29th August 2010

But some researchers believe that the issue is deeper that just the gap between those who have access and those that do not. Jean Underwood (2007) believes that they Digital Divide should be defined as the period gap in between economically stable countries that have the most efficient technologies and those who are a couple of years behind them. I believe a prime example of this is stated in the article, Leading with Technology. Proactive or Reactive? A new and disturbing digital divide written by M Lee (2009). Lee (2009) suggests that Australia is behind in having and using the most efficient form of technologies. She proposes that Australia is at least a decade behind countries such as New Zealand due to our Federal Government’s reaction to technology. Lee’s (2009) theory can also be applied to other misfortunate countries as they are using their money on more relevant issues to them and their society such as clear water supplies.

As indicated in this research, steps have already been taken to minimise the divide, for example using Web 2.0 applications to close the digital divide in Western Australia (Trinidad & Broadlley 2008). This report tells of how implementing technology in six classrooms of Western Australia affected both students and teachers positively excluding the connectively issue. Another example of this is Hope-in-the-Wall? A digital promise for free learning (Arora 2010) where in rural parts of India they introduced computers to children in informal learning environments and reported how they reacted optimistically to the technology. Programs and Government funded research is making a substantial difference in the digital divide and should be encouraged. Unfortunately technology comes at a price in which some Governments cannot produce.

I believe strongly that there is a Digital Divide. There is a gap between those who have access to technologies and those that do not and that the economy and connectivity issues are variables to this issue. I also believe that there are different forms of the Digital Divide that need to be researched further. For example the differences between student to student digital divide. How a student from the city can have more access to a student in a rural area and the effects of it. The teachers to student divide. This being how a student may have more knowledge about the technology that the teacher, and how this affects the classroom structure.

I believe the Digital Divide is not only going to raise issues with teachers and students. Some issues being a misunderstanding the task, due to technological knowledge gaps or not having the skills to teach or accomplish the task. But it also could benefit to teachers and students for example a teacher or student may not understand the task and we have the ability to teach them which gains the respect many older teachers want or the ability for another student to help assist the class or student which gains a mutual environment. 

Most importantly I believe the Digital Divide is an issue everyone should be aware of throughout any career but especially teaching.

REFERENCE LIST

Arora, P. (2010). Hope-in-the-Wall? A digital promise for free learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 41(5), 689-702. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2010.01078.x

Lee, M. (2009). Proactive or reactive? A new and disturbing digital divide. Australian Educational Leader. (31), 32-33. Retrieved from http://search.informit.com.au/fullText;dn=176623;res=AEIPT> ISSN: 1832-8245

The Australian Institute of Social Research. (2006).The Digital Divide- Barriers to e-learning- Final Report: 2008.Retrieved from http://www.ala.asn.au/public/docs/report/Barriers_-_by_Digital_Bridge_Unit.pdf

 Trinidad, S.,& Broadlley,T. (2008). Using Web 2.0 Applications to Close the Digital Divide in Western Australia. Education in Rural Australia, (18), 3-11. Retrieved from <http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=468482517367953;res=IELHSS&gt; ISSN: 1036-0026

Underwood, J. (2007). Rethinking the Digital Divide: impacts on student-tutor relationship. European Journal of Education, 42(2), 213-222.doi:10.1111/j.3435.2007.00298.x