Digital Divide

After reading the article by Warschauer on reconceptualizing the digital divide it really made me think about things that I have never put much thought into before. I have never really thought about how advanced the U.S. is compared to other countries or just different areas of the U.S. are more privileged than others to have a computer or any other digital technology. I never really saw myself as a privileged person to be able to have a computer and be able to be a part of the digital community.

It does not surprise me that when all these different corporations, that were brought up in the article, were “trying” to help out and provide people of under privileged areas with new up to date technologies that it failed in many instances. When bringing in new technology to areas that have never seen it before it can be really intimidating for on thing and also it is important for the corporations to realize that along with the technology they also need to provide the support for the communities to go to if help is needed. This is also something that needs to be thought of when teachers bring in digital devices in the classroom. When teachers bring computers, for instance, into the classroom they have to do this with the understanding that the children are going to be on different levels of competency with them.

The teachers can have a positive influence in the classroom with the digital devices. A way for them to have this positive influence is to have a background with the device, to be able to show the children how to use the device, whatever it may be, in any way that is of importance in the classroom.
I believe by having computer use in the classroom and it be implemented properly, with well trained teachers, it can help close the gap of the digital divide. This is especially the case in communities of low income families that may not be able to afford to have a family computer in the home. The children would not fall behind in our technological society by having the opportunity in school to use these technological tools