Bridging the Digital Divide

Bridging the Digital Divide:

Equal Access for All

First a value statement, as a Secondary School Teacher, I value the large impact that technology can have on student achievement and engagement.  Further, I believe that students should be given the opportunity to learn in a way that is engaging and interesting.  As a tool, technology can help to 'bridge gaps' in the learning of our students.  It has positive implications for students with learning exceptionalities and special education needs. These value statements are important because they reflect what I believe and what I stand for as an educator.  

However, students' access to technology must be considered as many students do not have equal access to technology. There are a number of factors at play here as students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds.  Further, there are discrepancies between the access to technology that various schools and boards provide to students.  My question here is are these obstacles insurmountable for technology integration?  I also want to recognize here that I teach in an area that is overall a socioeconomically privileged and not representative of many areas of Canada.

Issue #1: Rural vs. Urban

According to a Statistics Canada research report from 2003, rural areas of Canada have a weaker economic base.  Further, the numbers indicate that there are discrepancies between access to computer, and access to the internet both at home and in schools.  Further, in some rural communities, internet can be more cost prohibitive than in urban areas.  For example, " a basic internet package can cost $110.00 in the Northwest Territories" (CBC).  

Issue #2: Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Wireless internet, cell phone data and computers are all expensive.  Many schools and households simply cannot afford to provide the appropriate access to technology for youth.  

Issue #3: Parent Education

Also related to SES, parental education has a big impact on the use of technology in the household.  In a study conducted in 2003 in Canada, if parents had a university degree, 100% of their children had access to technology.  

Issue #4: Stigma

I can only imagine how challenging it would be to complete 'internet research' for a student that does not have access to the internet at home.  For many students, there is a great deal of stigma attached to their family's finances and they may not disclose this to their teachers.  

Bridging the Gap:

Nationally, this is a complicated issue.  According to CIRA, there are "over 70 grassroots organizations across the country working to make Canada's internet better for all Canadians".  As voters, it is essential that people push to make this a priority for our federal and provincial governments. 

In my own community (which I recognize is privileged on an SES level), I offer time to work with technology in the classroom.  Further, I do not assume that students have the same access at home and offer options for their assignments.  Further, as some students do not have the same access at home, I take the time and care to teach digital literacy and show students how to use various apps and programs in the classroom.  As a school leader, I try to help to prioritize and foster access to technology in the school.  

On a personal note, reading about this issue heightened my awareness made me aware of how big this issue is.  As a educator, I will bring this awareness into my own classroom and better support my students.  

  

Sources:

Looker, D., & Thiessen, V. (2003). The digital divide in Canadian schools: Factors affecting student 

          access to and use of information technology. Research Data Centers: Statistics Canada. 

          Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/81-597-x/81-597-x2003001-eng.pdf?

          st=xS9QDYAG.

Barriers to Integrating Technology - The Digital Librarian. (n.d.). Retrieved from 

          https://sites.google.com/site/thedigitallibrarian/barriers-to-integrating-technology

The digital divide leaves more Canadians offline than you think | CBC Radio. (2018, October 19). 

         Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/radio/spark/410-1.4868830/the-digital-divide-leaves-more-

         canadians-offline-than-you-think-1.4868857

Closing the gap in the greatest resource of our time: Canada's internet. (2019, May 09). Retrieved 

         from https://cira.ca/blog/state-internet/closing-gap-greatest-resource-our-time-canada’s-internet