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The Digital Divide

The interaction between people and technology tools have increased in the past decades.
It is crucial now to have access and be able to use digital tools. However, there exists students
and people in the general population that lacks both digital access and digital literacy. Through
this paper, readers will come face to face with the reality of digital divide; its effects to the
student population and society, as well as the role that various stakeholders can plat to help
create equality in the access to and the literacy to use digital tools.
Digital divide refers to the gap between student populations who have modern
information and communication technology and those that do not have such access. Krogh et al.
(2015) view digital divide as the differences in the quality of technology that students have
access to both at school and at their homes. Although students have access to technology,
sometimes it is usually not up-to-date. Also, students from homes that cannot afford
technological tools are disadvantaged because they can only access technology while at school
(Krogh et al., 2015). On the other hand, students from wealthier homes have access to
technology both at school and at home. Another factor that contributes to the digital divide is the
fact that most teachers, more than half in the teaching profession are not comfortable using
technology. Most of these teachers acquired their degrees when most of these technology tools
were inexistent. Training them is quite a task, and even after training, it is still not easy for them
to integrate them into their classrooms. Such a scenario creates digital divide as students will not
have access to the tools that other students in schools where teachers use technology use.
The digital divide has created a new aspect of disparity in society today. In the short
term, the digital divide has affected the quality of education received by children in schools and

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regions where technology tools are inadequate. The inadequacy of Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) tools is weakening the education system in some areas and
schools. Students from schools and areas where they do not have adequate access to technology
are getting education of lower quality than their counterparts in privileged regions. Also, this
digital divide is causing a widening gap in students. Students who have no access to technology
tools are not being equipped with skills that will help them fit in the dynamic job market (Van
Dijk, 2017). In the long term, digital divide will have an effect on the economy. Lack of or
limited technological skills will limit people’s engagement in economically productive activities.
Secondly, digital divide will lead to social divide between those who are technologically
enriched and those who are deficient. Such social segregation might lead to social conflicts.
Teachers have a role to play and help bridge the digital divide so as to avert the far-
reaching consequences. First, teachers should teach digital literacy. Students who lack adequate
access to technological tools also lack digital literacy. Teachers should build digital etiquette and
teach students how to use the tools they will have access to while in school (Van Dijk, 2017).
Teachers should teach this early in the year to ensure that students have the necessary skills and
knowledge required to help them complete assignments that will require the use of such tools.
Teachers can also help provide access. Most students who lack technology tools at home do not
know the other options available to them. Such students need to be enlightened that they can
access digital tools in the library. Teachers should provide students with a guide on the basic
library information that will help them maximize the opportunities available to them. Besides,
teachers can advocate for better and up-to-date technology tools in the schools where they teach.
Such a move would ensure that students have good access to technology.

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Digital divide inside and outside schools can be reduced through the adoption of several
strategies — first, the development of internet infrastructure in different regions that are still
lagging behind (Van Dijk, 2017). A second strategy is the empowerment of users. Students and
the general public can be equipped with the necessary skills to use the digital tools that they have
access to or are available to them. Also, increasing affordability of technology tools will help
minimize the digital divide.
Overall, digital reality is still a reality in the 21 st century. Students do not have equal
access to technology tools both in their schools and at home. Such disparities are affecting the
quality of education received by such students. Evidently, the challenge of the digital divide
points to a much larger societal problem. Its effects are not only experienced in the education
sector, but also in the economic development of different parts in the world. The digital divide
will be eliminated once the problems of poor infrastructure development, low levels of
education, and low quality of life are addressed. Until then different stakeholders must play their
role in ensuring that digital divide is reduced.

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References

Krogh, S. L., Fielstein, L., Phelps, P. H., & Newman, R. (2015). Introduction to education:
Choosing to teach. Retrieved fromhttps://content.ashford.edu
Van Dijk, J. A. (2017). Digital divide: Impact of access. The International Encyclopedia of
Media Effects, 1-11.