Tackling the Digital Divide & Literacy by Izabel Gronski
The “digital divide� has become a hot topic term, often thrown around in the media and in everyday interactions without full comprehension of its meaning. This article will address the digital divide, including its challenges and implications, as well as the opportunities available for librarians. What is the digital divide? In an educational setting, the digital divide is primarily the economic or social disparity in access to information communication technology (ICT) at home or school. More recently, discussion of the digital divide has shifted to focus on the quality of access and the development of students’ ICT skills. Photo by Wikipedia/CC BY Despite the fact that nearly 100% of schools provide Internet access to students, researchers have found huge differences in the type of productivity software and media used by students in high income versus low income schools. This is increasingly relevant because researchers suggest that ICT skills are linked to academic performance and personal empowerment (Ritzhaupt, 2013). This shift in focus demonstrates the importance of addressing the issue beyond the physical machines and Internet service in school buildings. Who does it affect? The digital divide poses major challenges for teachers, parents, and students, however there are many opportunities, particularly for teachers willing to think