In the education context, the digital divide generally refers to inequities in technology access among students. It is a highly relevant problem that affects approximately 16 million students in the United States (“Path to Digital Equity”). Hence, educators need to carefully consider the differences in digital opportunities among their students and choose the tasks appropriately. For instance, it is crucial to narrow the digital gap for the younger students who do not have consistent access to the internet and other digital means of completing homework. Evidently, contemporary technologies enable a more efficient learning process; however, it is crucial to remember that not all students can afford them. It is particularly relevant for young students in low-income families since socio-economic factors directly determine the severity of the digital divide (“Path to Digital Equity”). On the other hand, older students might be reluctant to adopt new digital education methods despite financial security. If such cases arise, it might be practical to show them how effective and convenient education technologies might be.
There are several methods to address the digital divide in classrooms, but they require the collaborative efforts of professors, students, and other members of the community. Personalized education is a highly effective approach that could be used to mitigate the differences in technology access among students (“Path to Digital Equity”). However, it is costly to develop individual plans/tasks for students based on their digital opportunities, and other methods might be appropriate. For instance, community programs are excellent instruments for building trust among all stakeholders and mitigating the barriers to the adoption of digital education (“Path to Digital Equity”). This approach improves digital literacy of participators but requires dedication from educators who should be prepared to connect with students and find the solution to the digital divide together. Ultimately, the collaborative efforts of teachers and students can help mitigate the consequences of the digital divide, but it is also crucial to increase the overall quality of life and help low-income families.
Work Cited
“Path to Digital Equity.” Medium, 2022.