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This assignment focused on exploring the concepts of digital inequality and the digital divide. I was very much looking forward to this assignment, as much of my work seeks to address these issues indirectly. My experience in this field is as an employee of an online charter school which currently services over 11,000 students across the state of Pennsylvania, with approximately 25% living in the metropolitan Philadelphia area. As a school we provide computers for every student (desktop computers for students in grades K-6, and laptop computers for students in grades 7-12). Because internet access is required, the school provides internet reimbursement for all family units. This provides the family a choice of the internet service provider that may work best for them. For special situations, such as for students with special medical needs or homeless students, the school will provide wireless cellular based aircards. The area of Pennsylvania that I service is located within Philadelphia; many of my students come from low and/or fixed income situations. As such, often the computers we provide are the only computers in the home. When technology problems arise, students are required to have a backup plan in place, such as utilizing the computers at a local library, or taking one’s laptop to a remote location which provides free Wi-Fi access. The company that provides the curriculum and interface for our school also provides free online educational resources, including downloadable apps available for iPhone and iPad. As a result, I have seen first hand the pros and cons of many of the solutions suggested as part of the assignment’s focus, at least as it pertains to an urban environment.
That being said, many of my coworkers service areas that are not urban, and as a result face different challenges. For example, eastern Pennsylvania alone is home to at least 3 distinct demographics. The city of Philadelphia is the 5th most populous city in the United States with over 1.5 million residents, complete with the strengths and challenges that come with urban living. When including the entire metropolitan area, the number rises to 6 million people. The Philadelphia suburbs are diverse, including the affluent Main Line area, as well as a collection of smaller communities. Less than 75 miles west of Philadelphia is Lancaster County, a rural environment famous for farmland and the Amish community, a community form whom a discussion digital inequality is irrelevant by choice. Thus, the needs of one community may not be the same as the needs of another, and as a result it is important to maintain a broad view to meet the needs of as many people as possible.
Ethically, this assignment has caused me to think of specific examples of people who may not consider themselves a part of the problem of digital inequality, because they do not consider access to technology as a problem. I think of members of the Amish community, for whom electricity is a religious violation. I think of one of my unmotivated students, who stated that all she wanted from life was to be able to go to the corner store and buy food, and thought that education was unnecessary. I think of my mother, who had little use for computers… at least until I purchased her an iPad as a gift during the holiday season. It is worth remembering that for some, there are benefits to a life without internet and digital technology. However, it is a matter of debate if one’s personal convictions should dictate the technology needs of family members, especially those in younger and future generations.
A major part of this project was working collaboratively; it was interesting having the capability to work with people from not only other states and in other time zones, but from Canada as well. I was reminded how valuable it is to have a variety of perspectives on any type of panel, as opinions will differ, but usually for excellent reasons. In addition, such groups often allow people with differing strengths and weaknesses to come together so that each person has the ability to do what she or he does best. However, there are of course logistical challenges in this type of project, such as the group members’ personal schedules. For future collaborative projects, I think a clearly defined project management style of organization with an appointed leader would be beneficial.
After some initial discussion via a separate google document, each group member was permitted to freely edit the presentation. The result was a presentation which included everyone’s voice, especially in the discussion of pros and cons of each of the seven suggested recommendations as well as alternatives. So although a clear recommendation was not made, I appreciated the grouping of rankings, which also accommodated some of the varying of opinion within the group.
AECT Standards
This assignment conforms to the following AECT Standards, through the use of collaborative and integrated media technologies (Google docs, Google presentation), discussion of real world policy and regulations in an attempt to utilize technology for the benefit of others, and effective management of available resources.
- Standard 2: Development
- 2.4 Integrated Technologies
- Standard 3: Utilization
- 3.2 Diffusion of Innovations
- 3.4 Policies and Regulations
- Standard 4: Management
- 4.2 Resource Management
A copy of the Scenario and assignment are below:
1. Scenario
You and your classmates are members of a Digital Inequality Task Force hired by your State Superintendent of Public Instruction. She has been given a special allocation of $50M to address digital inequalities in the state, and she wants the Task Force to consider the following seven options:
- Install computers in all public libraries in the state and expand the hours when the computers are available.
- Expand staffing and other resources so that public schools can be open to the public after normal school hours, on weekends, and during the summer months.
- Provide individuals in disadvantaged communities with computers.
- Provide high-speed Internet and mobile access for all state residents.
- Subsidize Internet Service Providers to provide low-cost Internet to all state residents.
- Provide information literacy courses to enhance computer skills and enable knowledgeable use of digital technologies.
- Develop free online educational content, giving first priority to content most relevant to lower socio-economic groups before content that is relevant to the rest of the public.
2. Your Assignment
As a member of this Task Force to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, you are assigned the task of evaluating these alternatives, possibly suggesting other alternatives, and giving recommendations. She has asked your group to prepare a multimedia presentation that will be delivered to all the relevant stakeholders.
For this assignment, you will collaborate with your small group, using Google Presentation to address the following:
- Discuss and compare digital divide and digital inequality;
- List the seven options suggested by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction;
- Describe any alternative(s) in addition to the seven you believe should be considered; and
- Identify the strongest alternatives and the weakest alternatives and why you rate them as you do.