=== Annotated Bibliography ===
Benton Foundation (2003) “A Broadband World: A Promise of Advanced Services�? http://www.benton.org/publibrary/broadband/broadband-world.html (Accessed on 10 August 2005)
The Benton Foundation is an organisation which “articulates a public interest vision for the digital age and to demonstrate the value of communications for solving social problems.�? This article moves away from the typical arguments relating to the digital divide, but delves into the world of broadband internet, indeed, one of the secondary factors of the digital divide. It explains broadband well, including policies and uses for it. Case studies are provided, demonstrating its uses in real life examples for worker training, online colleges, telemedicine to homes and prisons, public safety, real time sign language interpreting, building community networks, mobile broadband access
vehicles and many more. These case studies provide a good understanding of how broadband is utilised. The Benton Foundation expands the digital divide debate effectively through focusing on one of the important factors widening the knowledge gap.
Benton Foundation (1998) “Losing Ground Bit by Bit: Low-Income Communities in the Information Age�? http://www.benton.org/publibrary/losing-ground/home.html (Accessed on 9 August 2005)
This article focuses on the impact of the digital age on low-income communities, in which the poverty and isolation experienced by these communities is aggravated. The article speaks of an “information underclass,�? in which there is a segregated society based on technological access and literacy. The technology gap is demonstrated through statistics, trends and who is affected by it. The Benton Foundation explains barriers in closing the gap, including a lack of awareness in lower class communities, and society viewing technology as a gadget, hence not developing a sense of need for it to be equally distributed. Government policies are thought to be the key in bridging the gap, with further suggestions cited to help move progress along. Current initiatives being used to address the digital divide are also listed, making this resource very thorough in explaining the extent of the digital divide.
Blanchard, J. Souheil, M. (2004) “Bridging the digital divide: An opportunity for growth for the 21st century�? Alcatel Communications Review
Previously a Business Development Director, Blanchard is now a consultant, and Souheil a Business Development Manager for Alcatel. The authors give a case study and present a new development model based on ICT, in which they explain how ICT can contribute to a lasting, integrated development process. The model shows that little access to infrastructure and illiteracy are major contributors to poverty, and that ICT is the most realistic and economically viable investment in communication. In addition, the distribution of ICT is facilitated through regulatory framework, mobile phone booms, the internet craze and collective access facilities. Blanchard and Souheil conclude that in making sure the use of ICT is relevant in the local context will help achieve the bridging of the digital divide.
Bracey, B. (2005) “Extending the Information Revolution�? http://www.digitaldivide.net/articles/view.php?ArticleID=481 (Accessed on 8 August 2005)
This resource gives an insight on the impact technology has on education and what those children who are on the inferior side of the digital divide are missing out on. In addition, Bracey also focuses on the role teachers play in schools in relation to the digital divide. Teachers who are unable to grasp the technological skills that are vital to guide and mentor students are subsequently hindering the students’ progress. This article draws on three solutions at the end, with knowledge, teaching standards and the depth of education being expanded, to fulfil the knowledge gap. Bracey shows that even with access to technology, students, without teachers also having the knowledge to guide them, are still stuck on the wrong side of the divide.
DiBello, L. (2005) “Are We Addressing the Digital Divide? Issues, Access, and Real Commitment�? Childhood Education, Vol. 81, No. 4, p. 239.
DiBello is an assistant professor at the Graduate Education and Research Department, at Barry University. She gives a brief history and definition of the digital divide, how it has evolved, and its current meaning in the world today. A range of needs in addressing the digital divide are outlined, including the need for commitment from not only administrators, but also teachers, students and parents, to provide better access to technology. Updating resources and teacher training and support are further issues that are addressed in this article. Implications of the digital divide into four categories – educational advantages, future employment and earnings, opportunities for social and civil involvement and equity and civil rights issues – and are very briefly elaborated on.
Dodds, R. Mason, C. (2005) “Bridge the Digital Divide for Educational Equity�? The Education Digest, Vol. 70, No. 9, p. 25.
This publication gives an insight into possibilities related to technology that could impact primary schools in the near future. The role that schools and educational institutions play will ultimately determine whether or not the gap is bridged or widened. Mason, a senior research scientist and co-author of Universal Design for Learning, and Dodds, president and chief executive officer of AccessPoint Solutions, focus on solutions that address the problem for the long term, with planning, support, training, evaluation and keeping up-to-date with new technology the key to bridging the divide.
Malveaux, J. (2000) “Good news doesn't close gaps�? Black Issues in Higher Education, Vol. 17, No. 12, p. 35
This resource talks about the digital divide from an African-American perspective. Describing the digital divide as one in four gaps that African-Americans experience economically, the others being the income gap, credit cap and education gap. Malveaux explains how the gaps are all inter-linked, the digital divide affecting education, credit cards affecting the digital divide, and income affecting the use of credit cards. Some encouraging information from the Department of Education is mentioned, yet, Malveaux is dissatisfied with the result, as the decreased gap still does not present equal opportunities in education compared to their Anglo-Saxon counterparts. This resource is useful in giving a grounded perspective on “improvements�? on the digital divide.
Pearson, T. Swain, C. (2002) “Educators and Technology Standards: Influencing the Digital Divide�? Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 34, No. 3, p. 326
Pearson is a doctoral candidate in curriculum and instruction, focusing in educational technology. She has taught at the University of Florida and has written articles in various schooling and technology publications. Swain, having a PhD and also teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level, is an assistant professor at the University of Florida in the educational technology program. She has also had articles published in various schooling and technology publications. This article provides research into whether or not technology actually assists children in learning. Pearson and Swain present the view that although technology can indeed enhance student achievement, it is the kind of access that will determine this. They focus on access and frequency of use, differing computer experiences, teacher training and technology integration and standards.
Revenaugh, M. (2000) “Beyond the digital divide: Pathways to equity�?, Technology and Learning, Vol. 20, No. 10, p. 38
Revenaugh gives a first-hand account of the digital divide through her role as vice president of education for a free, filtered Internet service, while also serving as an editor over many educational publications such as Instructor, Electronic Learning, America’s Agenda, and Teaching and Computers. She focuses on its effect on education, particular those in rural areas, and factors such as the internet and access in homes, which widen the gap. This divide is exacerbated due to rapid developing new technology, and older technology quickly becoming obsolete. Statistics are provided throughout, to demonstrate the extent of the digital divide in American classrooms. Revenaugh gives mention to various funds and foundations that were used to try and bridge the gap, all of which have improved the inequality substantially. She ends on an optimistic note, that the divide can be bridge and focusing on a “broadband divide�? instead. This resources gives a good overview of the aspects of the digital divide.
Sehrt, M. (2003) “Digital Divide into Digital Opportunities�? UN Chronicle, Vol. 40, No. 4, p. 45.
In this article, published by the UN, the digital divide is looked at in a larger global scale. Sehrt puts the issue in developing countries into perspective by comparing it to the basic needs of the people in those countries. ICTs are shown to play an important role for the entry of developing countries into the new global economy. Sehrt talks about issues such as multicultural communications and language reading barriers. The article gives an excellent, broader view towards the digital divide, with issues not mentioned in other journals, as they tend to focus on the problem only in the United States.
Warschauer, M. (2002) “Reconceptualising the Digital Divide�? First Monday, Vol. 7, No. 7.
Warschauer is Assistant Professor of Education and Information and Computer Science at the University of California, while also being editor of the Language Learning and Technology journal. This resource looks at the digital divide through three case studies, all of which show the failures of strategies used in an attempt to address the divide. This leads Warschauer to approach the digital divide in a different light, where the price put on just access to hardware and software alone is too high, and focus needs to be shifted to human and social systems as well. The resource informs that the digital divide is no binary divide, and the reasons behind the divide do not rest in the one single factor of accessibility. Instead, the idea of social inclusion to help bridge the gap is focused on in this article, with models helping to explain the theory, and a comparison between literacy and ICT access further showing the logic behind a different approach to addressing the divide. Warschauer does well in showing a new perspective on the issue, explaining his theories thoroughly.
