Digital Ethics Book Project Reflection Format
 

Bridging the Digital Divide

Paulina Haselhorst

Wednesday, November 18th, 2015

http://digitalethics.org/essays/bridging-the-digital-divide/

Digital Bridge

First Impression:

I think it has something to do with digital division.

Quote:

"The combined costs of new equipment, high-speed Internet and teacher training are difficult to cover when schools have other issues to address"

Reflection Proper:

Before reading the article and just by looking at the title, "Bridging the Digital Divide", i thought that it would be regarding the division in the digital world where one is more adept in the digital realm while the other just touches the tip, but after reading the whole article, it is about the division between people who have access to the internet.

The article insists that we must push the use of computer labs in schools, primarily, grade school as well as high school. It even said that if need be, the school needs to find income outside school just to be able to provide the computer labs. There is also another push that a ratio of one is to one in student to computer ratio.

The access to the digital world is not just the hardware computer or tablet or laptop, one also needs an internet connection. A lot of school as stated in the article has slow internet connection. This prohibits growth in teaching about the digital world. In 2013, Obama initiated the ConnectED which can help by providing fast internet connection to schools, universities, and libraries.

Here in the Philippines, we lack both, infrastructure of the hardware computer or laptop or tablet as well as the lack of fast internet connection. I think the Philippine Government must do something about this so that the next generation citizens of the Philippines will be competitive. Another problem we have in the Philippines is major corruption. Even if we have plans on developing our public schools, the officials just steal the money away from the schools and this hinders growth.

5 Things That I've learned:

Obama introduced the ConnectED.

Moorseville schools provided a device to each student in grades 3-12.

Due to this devices, graduation rate increased by 11%.

Schools see digital curricula as a novelty.

Schools must prioritize integrating technology.

5 Integrative Questions:

What is digital divide?

What is the government doing to lessen this divide?

How will internet help teach kids?

How will teaching the digital world help if other subjects are not not taught well?

How will we have less corrupt officials?