Digital Divide Leigha Morris

What is the Digital Divide? “Digital Divide” refers to the gap between those who can benefit from digital technology and those who cannot.

Affects of the Digital Divide “Internet access is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity.”

How do we Bridge the Gap? 1. Install computers in all public libraries in the state and expand the hours when the computers are available. 2. Expand staffing and other resources so that public schools can be open to the public after normal school hours, on weekends, and during the summer months. 3. Provide individuals in disadvantaged communities with computers. 4. Provide high-speed Internet and mobile access for all state residents. 5. Subsidize Internet Service Providers to provide low-cost Internet to all state residents. 6. Provide information literacy courses to enhance computer skills and enable knowledgeable use of digital technologies. 7. Develop free online educational content, giving first priority to content most relevant to lower socio-economic groups before content that is relevant to the rest of the public. Proposed Solutions

Strengths/Weaknesses Install computers in all public libraries in the state and expand the hours when the computers are available. Subsidize Internet Service Providers to provide low-cost Internet to all state residents. Provide information literacy courses to enhance computer skills and enable knowledgeable use of digital technologies. Develop free online educational content, giving first priority to content most relevant to lower socio-economic groups before content that is relevant to the rest of the public Expand staffing and other resources so that public schools can be open to the public after normal school hours, on weekends, and during the summer months. Provide individuals in disadvantaged communities with computers. Provide high-speed Internet and mobile access for all state residents.

Strengths Install computers in all public libraries in the state and expand the hours when the computers are available. Subsidize Internet Service Providers to provide low-cost Internet to all state residents. Provide information literacy courses to enhance computer skills and enable knowledgeable use of digital technologies. Develop free online educational content, giving first priority to content most relevant to lower socio-economic groups before content that is relevant to the rest of the public The following ideas are very strong because they provide access to those that don’t have technological resources. Expanding the hours would give opportunities for more children to access the resources and accommodate parent working hours. Having technology is not good enough. Providing literacy courses would teach parents and students how to properly utilize the resources so that they can become proficient and independent. Making courses free would be great because many of the students who don’t have digital access are those from low socio-economic homes that cannot afford reosurces.

Weaknesses Expand staffing and other resources so that public schools can be open to the public after normal school hours, on weekends, and during the summer months. Provide individuals in disadvantaged communities with computers. Provide high-speed Internet and mobile access for all state residents. The following ideas were deemed weakness because the resources would incur a large problem with wear and tear causing much of the money to be utilized for upkeep as well as extra cleaning and bathroom usage. Providing individuals from disadvantaged communities will not work because they still will not work if they are taking advantage of the educational courses as well as have access to the internet. Providing high-speed internet and mobile access for all state residents will take all of the funds and will only be a short-term fix because services will be terminated once funds are depleted.