Digital Divide

The digital divide refers to the widening gap between people who have regular access to digital and information technology and those who don’t. The effect of this gap promises to compound an already economically polarized society of the “haves and have nots” by also potentially limiting a population segments ability to “participate”, further their education goals, and even function in modern day society. For example, computer-based democratic participation could result in someone’s inability to even vote.

As a school district, it is our moral responsibility to be proactive about taking steps to insure our students aren’t victimized by this growing phenomenon. My specific recommendations would include:

1. Establishing each school building as a high-speed wireless campus.
2. Purchase 1 wireless mobile laptop cart for every 300 students for teachers to sign out and use in their classrooms. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation welcome grant applications for this very purpose.
3. Establish “TRT’s” (technology resource teachers) with each school building to help teachers and students troubleshoot through their various applications. As we all know, even the best technological applications have their “glitches”, it is important that qualified personnel are in place to help guide everyone through both the peaks and valleys of technology integration.
4. Allocate funds/ write grants for the purchase of “Promethean” boards for teachers who prove they have the aptitude for, or are willing to be trained in how to use this hardware.
5. Move technology into the “core” portion of our school districts curriculum. The reality is that for all of our current students, mastering technological applications won’t be “elective” for them. We cannot provide students the “option” of being on the wrong side of the “digital divide”.
6. Establish a timeline for eventually mandating that students submit a portion of their coursework digitally in selected courses.

These steps will require a commitment on the part of the district, some belt tightening of the districts budget, and most importantly a pro-active mentality with regard to insuring our students don’t find themselves on the wrong side of the “digital divide”.

The primary obstacle will be funding, however it is important to keep in mind that many of the fiscal costs associated with implementing these recommendations are primarily of a “start up” nature, and that there are ample grant opportunities to help offset a good portion. My initial formal recommendation would be to bring in a grant-writing consultant to sharpen our districts focus with respect to fundraising/grant-writing.