The Digital Divide: Resource Roundup

Resources by Topic:

• Exploring Digital Inclusion
• Digital and Media Literacy
• Blogs about the Digital Divide
• Articles from the Vault
• Additional Resources on the Web

Exploring Digital Inclusion

Crossing the Digital Divide: Bridges and Barriers to Digital Inclusion by Sara Bernard (2011)
Now that we’ve reached the second decade of the new millennium, how is digital access changing, and what are the implications for schools?

A New Understanding of the Digital Divide by Mary Beth Hertz (2011)
Blogger and elementary school computer teacher Mary Beth Hertz discusses a new perspective on the digital divide -- not just access but "kind of access."

A Short History of the Digital Divide by Richard Rapaport (2009)
The birth of the internet and how the term "digital divide" evolved, from our Digital Generation package.

Join the discussion in the Edutopia Community: "Have we forgotten about the digital divide?"

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Digital and Media Literacy

Digital Literacy is the Bedrock for Lifelong Learning by Vanessa Vega (2011)
Bridging the digital divide means more than just access to devices, it includes digital literacy, which ensures informed citizens and the birth of new ideas.

Why Media Literacy is Not Just for Kids by Suzie Boss (2011)
Blogger and education journalist Suzie Boss proposes that media and digital literacy is not just for students, but essential for all citizens nationwide.

The New Literacy: Scenes from the Digital Divide 2.0 by Richard Rapaport (2009)
Just as one cyber gulf narrows, another has threatened to take its place.

A Digital-Literacy Maven's Favorite Web Links by Michele Knobel (2009)
A professor of education uses these websites and resources to help prepare tomorrow's teachers for working with "digital natives" in the classroom.

Students Evolve from Consumers to Critics and Creators by Ken Ellis (2005)
Critical-thinking skills -- and fluency in multimedia production -- are integral to media literacy.

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Source: “The Digital Divide," Fall 2011 issue of Policy Priorities 17(3), p 4. © 2011 by ASCD. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Read the Policy Priorities issue.

Blogs about the Digital Divide

How Teachers Use Technology: The Latest Research by Mary Beth Hertz (2013)
Edutopia blogger Mary Beth Hertz considers the implications of a new study by Pew Research about how teachers are using technology at home and in their classrooms, and what it can tell us about the digital divide.

Should We Be Concerned About an "App Gap"? by Audrey Watters (2011)
There is a growing disparity between those who have used apps on mobile devices and those who have not, writes blogger Audrey Watters, but what is the real impact?

Using Blogs to Engage English Language Learners by Jon Schwartz (2011)
A fourth grade teacher uses blogging to help close the digital divide in his classroom in Oceanside, California.

The Digital Divide Within: Creating a Level Playing Field for All Students by Chris O'Neal (2007)
Educational technology consultant and former Edutopia.org blogger Chris O'Neal writes about how students don't always get equal time on computers, even in the school setting.

Digital Equity: Working Together For a Solution by Bonnie Bracey Sutton (2006)
Teacher, technology consultant, and former Edutopia blogger Bonnie Bracey Sutton describes how she and other miniority teachers created a Digital Equity Special Interest Group to brainstorm solutions to digital inequity.

America’s Effort to Close the Digital Divide Stalls by Bonnie Bracey Sutton (2006)
Bonnie Bracey Sutton argues that in 2006, the United States was behind the curve in initiatives to make technology accessible to all students.

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Articles from the Vault

Edutopia's early coverage provides a snapshot of the roots of the digital divide discussion.

The Digital Divide: Where We Are by Norris Dickard and Diana Schneider (2002)
In 2002, "digital divide" was a big buzzword in the news and in politics. Here's an article from the archives about the state of affairs at the time.

Community Technology Centers: A National Movement to Close the Digital Divide by Mark Sargent (2002)
Working on closing the gap between the schools with technology and those without.

Reports on the Digital Divide: Are We Truly Making Progress? (2002)
A round-up of research and publications on the digital divide from 2002.

Digital Divide: Next Steps for Schools (2000)
An interview about actions that can be taken to address the digital divide, with the director of the PBS series Digital Divide.

Bridging the Digital Divide: A Presentation Tool by Dr. Aprille Ericsson-Jackson (2000)
A NASA aerospace engineer's downloadable Powerpoint presentation and resource list for educators.

Mending the Breach: Overcoming the Digital Divide by Andy Carvin (2000)
The first comprehensive Edutopia.org article about the digital divide takes a closer look at what it is and who it affects most.

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