Closing the Digital Divide

Internet access is so highly correlated with income and educational achievement, it is critical that we work to ensure that all of our students at the very least have access to an internet-connected device throughout the school day.  Many 1:1 programs allow students to use their devices outside of school hours as well.  It is imperative that we teach all of our students the skills needed not only to successfully navigate the Internet but also to critically assess the validity of the information they find from a variety of online sources.  It is also crucial that we teach our students to view themselves as creators of online content.  Computer labs which students visit once a week are simply not sufficient to address the digital divide.

Tips to Mitigate the Digital Divide:

• provide tools and materials to help students be successful in the 21st Century
• open library hours
• computer labs with flexible hours 
• flipped classrooms 
• training educators 
• training students
• bring your own device
• community technology nights
• parent training nights 
• partnering with local libraries and businesses to help underprivileged parents gain access