The+Digital+Divide

The digital divide refers to groups of people that have technology resources and those who do not. Researchers study groups of people by their ethnicity, age, gender, and special needs. Laws have been made that state people have an equal right to access the same information.
 * Definition **

The U.S. Department of Commerce National Teleommunications and Information Administration has published a [|report] documenting:
 * Statistics **
 * Percent of Households with Computers and Internet Connections
 * Persons in the Home Using Broadband in the Home by Household Income
 * Persons in the Home Using Broadband in the Home by Age
 * Persons in the Home Using Broadband in the Home by Race
 * Persons in the Home Using Broadband in the Home by Employment
 * Persons in the Home Using Broadband in the Home by Household Type
 * Persons in the Home Using Broadband in the Home by Gender
 * Persons in the Home Using Broadband in the Home by Black Non-Hispanic and Hispanics in Rural and Urban Areas
 * Persons in the Home Using Broadband in the Home by Employed and Unemployed in Rural and Urban Areas
 * Persons and Households with No Internet Use at Home or Anywhere, and No Broadband Use
 * Persons and Households with No Broadband in Rural and Urban Areas
 * Reasons for No Internet Use

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Most of the data within the report covered the years from 1997 to 2009. The report shows that computer and internet usage is growing in every category including age, race, and income levels. Yet there is a large percentage difference between categories distinguishing groups with more access than others.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The U.S. Census Bureau has published results of [|Internet use in October 2009]. The digital divide can clearly be seen between ethnic and economic differences.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">**Considerations**

When writing our policies we want to be sure that all students have access to technology and computers. This may mean that the school's computer lab is opened early and stays open after school. Family's access to computers and the internet should be inventoried for the school to have concrete numbers to use in making decisions. If the school services a population that does not have access to the computers than training sessions would be a wonderful community service and outreach. This would be a great way to connect and work with parents. I believe student laptops is a great investment to look into. Students need their own personal digital working environment. With the size and quality of the new Macs, this would be a solution to some technology problems that exist in our schools and communities today.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In this video the digital divide is defined clearly and the issues facing Americans is addressed. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">media type="youtube" key="fCIB_vXUptY" height="390" width="480" //**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">One Laptop Per Child **// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">This video is about a company that is creating laptops for children in impoverished countries. I find the review of this laptop very interesting and wonder if there is any possible applications to impoverished children here in the U.S.?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Videos **

media type="youtube" key="PM33EEAszHA" height="390" width="480"

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">References **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">(2009). //Internet Use in the United States: October 2009.// Retrieved Feb. 3, 2011, from U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC. Web site: [].

(2009). //What Is the "digital divide?".// Retrieved Feb. 5, 2011, from Video Free Press. Web site: [].

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Pogue, D. (2007). //One Laptop per Child.// Retrieved Feb. 5, 2011, from New York Times, New York, NY. Web site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM33EEAszHA&feature=related.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Strickling, L. E. & Gomez, A. (2010). //Digital Nation: 21st Century America's Progress Toward Universal Broadband Internet Access.// Retrieved Feb. 3, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">2011, from U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Washington, DC. Web site: <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[]