The Digital Divide

Not a day goes by that I don't see people either talking on their phone, text-messaging, checking their e-mail, or chatting online. Furthermore, not a day goes by that I don't participate in these ventures either. We are living in what historians have and will call the "Digital Age". What a priviledge it is to be able to look up information with the click of a mouse, talk to someone across the globe instantly, and as future teachers, be able to plan lessons and learning activities around helpful computer programs. The use of computers in everyday life is quickly becoming a necessity. In fact, the textbook, Tect Tactics, even compares it to being as basic a skill as reading. But unfortunately, just as it is with reading, there are plenty of unexecpted people who haven't acquired the skill just yet. Which brings me to the digital divide.
The digital divide, according to Tech Tactics, is a "cultural barrier that faces people who do not have access to technology and the internet- or the ability to use them effectively if they are available". Many factors affect the divide, such as geography, ethnicity, education, and economics. Furthermore, according to the article, "A Nation Online", 41.3% of Americans do not use the internet because it's too expensive, they are uninterested, or it is unavailable. Also, evidence shows that not only availabilty affects internet use, but also the type of internet. Residents with broadband internet, in comparison to dial-up, are much more likely to actively and frequently use the internet as a resource.
So what does this mean for teachers? Times are changing and so must we. In efforts to keep up, teachers want to use computers, as well as the internet, in their classrooms. What better way is there to show your students the world, provide them with a wealth of information, or give them hands-on experiences? But with the digital divide, this concept may not be as easy at it seems. Teachers will have two to three typical types of students in their classrooms- those who are computer wiz's, those who are acquainted with computer skills but still struggle while using them, and those who have little to no personal experience using computers. How will teachers keep up with this divide within their own classroom? They will have to be prepared to teach basic skills as well as engage their students in other ways. As teachers are preparing a lesson with computers as a resource, they will have to keep in mind how they will teach their students to use programs, they will need to be reflective and understand what problems may arise, and think on how they will counteract those problems. Most importantly though, a teacher should understand how it feels to be learning new information, and be careful not to overload their students.
The digital divide may cause some problems within the classroom, but overall it's nothing that a prepared teacher cannot overcome. Overall, it just takes practice, patience, and reflective understanding to best teach students who either never use computers or actively use them.