The New Digital Divide
I live in the heart of Silicon Valley, birthplace of the computer revolution. Yet within a 20 mile radius, one is confronted by the persistent reality of the ‘digital divide’, the gulf between those with digital access and savvy and those without. The differences are enormous: Several districts have 1:1 iPad programs extending from high school down into the upper elementary levels, while only miles aware are districts with only old-style computer labs housing antiquated equipment.
Computer Science - The Digital Chasm
This potential for technology access and use to magnify the gap between the haves and have-nots is especially apparent when one looks at content creation and especially computer programming skills. Here the discrepancy is a gulf. A recent “National Call to Action” highlighted this concern, pointing out the lack of attention paid by the Common Core to computer science education. Only 14 states include programs that come at all close to recommended standards for secondary level computer science programs. Not surprisingly, African Americans, Latinos and women are significantly under-represented in these programs. The study describes this lack of access to K–12 computer science education as “privileged knowledge,” and identifies it as a significant social justice issue for the 21st Century.
Call to Action
Certainly initiatives that improve infrastructure and bring technology resources into rural or impoverished communities will help. Unfortunately with computerized assessments now mandated by the Common Core, many of these resources will be consumed by testing and test preparation - an issue in its own right. As important, and most often neglected, is the need for quality training of staff so that all available resources are used to their maximum potential. A future blog will explore possible strategies to address this growing concern, but in the meanwhile, what are your thoughts about how to turn this around?