Breaking Through the Ethnic Barriers of Technology Use

1
Breaking Through the Ethnic Barriers of
Technology Use

• UNC-Teaching and Learning with Technology
  Conference
• Raleigh Hilton
• March 31, 2005
• Ronda Henderson
• NC AT State University
• Greensboro, NC 27411
• rondah_at_ncat.edu

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What is Digital Equity?

• Equal access to technological tools
• Emerged from coined term Digital Divide
• Controversial topic

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Evidence of Gap Still Existing

• According to a 2002 study conducted by the Pew
  Internet and American Life Project
• Younger Americans more wired than older Americans
• Well-to-do Americans more wired than less
  well-off Americans

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Evidence of Gap Still Existing

• According to a 2002 study conducted by the Pew
  Internet and American Life Project
• White Americans more wired than African-Americans
  and Hispanics
• Well-educated Americans more wired than those who
  only completed high school
• Suburban and urban residents more wired than
  rural residents

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Internet AccessSource Pew Internet American
Life Project Tracking Survey, April 2000 and
March-May 2002. Margin of error is 2.5 for
April 2000 and 2 for March-May 2002. N2503 for
April 2000 data, N3,553 for March-May 2002
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Digital Divide Access

• First Component
• Access to hardware software
• Access to high-speed Internet
• Access to up-dated equipment

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Digital Divide Literacy Learning

• Second Component
• Access to technology not enough
• Computer literacy skills
• Lifelong learning skills

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Digital Divide Content

• Third Component
• Diverse content
• Relative to the lives of ALL users
• Limited literacy skills
• Individuals with disabilities
• Diverse backgrounds
• Language barriers-ESL

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Indicators of Digital Divide

• Income
• Race
• Education

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Results of Digital Divide

• Less power as consumer
• Fewer economic opportunities
• Fewer educational opportunities
• Less access to high-quality health info
• Less opportunity to communicate with others

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How Can We Help?

• Resources to obtain computer and Internet access
• Technology in/out of the classroom
• Skills to use the technological tools

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Resources Computer Internet Access

• Nonprofit organizations that donate used
  computers
• Free Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• E-Rate program-federally funded program

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Resources Literacy Learning

• The Digital Equity Toolkit

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Webliography

• The Digital Equity Toolkit-http//nicimc2.org/de_t
  oolkit/pages/toolkit.htm
• Education Reform Network- http//digitalequity.edr
  eform.net/
• Digital Divide Network http//www.digitaldividenet
  work.org
• National Institution for Community Innovations-
  http//www.nici-mc2.org/NICI_MC2_home.htm
• Center for Children and Technology-http//www2.edc
  .org/CCT/
• Accessible Technologies for All Students-
  http//www.accessibletech4all.org/

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Sources for Donated Computers

• Computers for Learning-http//www.computers.fed.go
  v/Public/home.asp
• National Share the Technology Donation
  Database-http//sharetechnology.org
• Digital Dividend Resource Marketplace-http//www.
  digitaldividend.org/marketplace/marketplace.htm
• National Safety Council-http//www.nsc.org/ehc/Cnt
  ctlst.htm
• Gifts in Kind-http//www.giftsinkind.org/newhome/r
  egistered_charity.asp
• Beaumont Foundation-http//www.bmtfoundation.com/b
  fa/us/public/
• Computer Aid International-http//www.computeraid.
  org/

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References

• Gaujean-La Mar, N. (2001). New Jerseys solution
  to the digital divide. THE Journal, 29, 66-70.
• Martin, S. (2003). Is the digital divide really
  closing? IT and Society, 1(4), 1-13.
• National Center for Education Statistics (2003b).
  Computer and internet use by children and
  adolescent in 2001. Washington, DC Department
  of Education. Retrieved January 6, 2004 from
  http//nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid20
  04011http//nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pub
  id2004014.
• National Center for Education Statistics (2003a).
  Internet access in U.S. public schools and
  classrooms 1994-2002. Washington, DC
  Department of Education. Retrieved January 6,
  2004 from http//nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.as
  p?pubid2004011
• Wilhelm, T., Carmen, D., Reynolds, M. (2002).
  Kids Count Snapshot. Baltimore, MD Annie E.
  Casey Foundation. Retrieved January 6, 2004 from
  http//www.aecf.org/publications/pdfs/snapshot_jun
  e2002.pdf..