Community Technology Centers: A National Movement to Close the Digital Divide
Working on closing the gap between the schools with technology and those without.
by Mark Sargent
I must admit that I really see the Technology divide as a little Marxist. It's like looking for one more reason to condemn the haves and fight for the have nots. I agree that in the 90's and early 2000's there was a troubling divide. If you could not afford a computer you were missing out on a big part of life and a necessary modern tool. Things have changed. If you were to compare a middle class school with a poor school you would see a technology divide. The poor school will have technology coming out of their ears and the middle school will be tech-light. What's worse is that many of the grants given poor schools is based on testing. As long as the students test low they get full tech dollars, so it's in their interest to maintain a technology divide.
Here is the real issue: are we responsible for teaching technology standards in our schools, and who are we accountable to. This article begins to answer this question. If a program is to work it needs to not only put technology in the hands of the have nots it has to teach them to use it and produce original products. I am impressed with the idea with starting with Art on the computers. Yes, get students in the mode of producer rather than consumer. Generation Y is defined as a group of consumers. American depends on creating and using technology on the cutting edge, and we will not stay there if we do not train our children to think in innovative ways. This will narrow and close any tech divide, and instead of rewarding failure it would produce and reward success.
1 comment:
To a certain extent, I agree with your view. I believe that the digital divide has become less and less as the years have passed. I do disagree that just because some low income schools test low, they receive more technology. I believe it goes back to the district. If they believe it is important to teach, they will figure out a way to give you the resources and the training.
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