Option #2
In this blog, I want you to think about how you would bridge the divide in the United States. You should reference things you experienced this week that you thought were effective and things you did not believe were effective in bridging the gap. Note anything that you think the groups missed in terms of their approaches to lessening the Digital Divide.
Despite the ongoing efforts to bridge the digital gap within the United States, the country still faces a huge divide. This week’s reading/links gave me a deeper look into the persistence of the digital divide but not just in terms of access to technology. I learned more about who is influencing the future of STEM and how exciting that is. With that excitement, I’d like to start off with what I think is already working for the United States in terms of the digital world.
We have a few programs like Black Girls Code and National Girls Collaborative Project, that teach digital literacy and coding skills to people of all ages but they have a strong focus on children and teens. These groups focus on working with underrepresented communities and help inspire them so there can be more of their voices in STEM fields. Programs like these are super beneficial and are a great example of positive representation, which is so important for children. They get to see people that look like them work in tech and it helps them imagine themselves in that field. Another effective strategy I read about was mobile tech labs and community center tech hubs. Programs like these help bring internet access directly to underserved areas and help meet people where they are. This is especially helpful in low-income or rural areas where internet access is unavailable or simply unaffordable (Kaufmann, C., 2024). I think this works well because it doesn’t just dump tech and leave. Instead, there are people there that can offer support and train people on how to use the equipment. Tech hub programs help build a stronger community by providing access to the digital world as well as laying groundwork for future opportunities.
On the other hand, some of the strategies felt like they were too tech-centered and not people-centered. Like the program we read about previously, they were too focused on distributing the technology without ensuring that its recipients had the skills or support to use it. Handing someone a tablet or laptop without teaching them how to use it, only deepens the digital divide. Another thing I noticed was the focus of attention on children and adolescents. While the focus shouldn’t be taken away, there is a lack of attention on adult learners. There are many parents, grandparents, and other adults that struggle with digital literacy because they were never given access to training. There’s also a lack of attention to people with disabilities or speaking a language other than English. Sometimes all of these things can go hand in hand. While it is important to give people the ability to access the digital world, we need to make sure, again, that they have what they need to do so. Accessibility is often an afterthought when it comes to technology and the internet. Because of this, populations are missing out on crucial resources because they don’t have proper access. Tech access without inclusion isn’t real access.
To sum it up, working towards bridging the digital divide, should have a multidisciplinary approach. Access to technology needs to come with support and education. Digital literacy should start early but continue throughout life so that it also includes our adult learners. Programs should also reflect the populations that they serve, whether that’s translations or other accessibility features, to ensure that everyone has equal access to learning. Until the deeper socioeconomic inequalities are addressed, the digital divide will continue to widen.
References:
About Us | Black Girls Code. (2024). Wearebgc.org. https://www.wearebgc.org/about-us
Definition and Overview of Universal Design (UD). (n.d.). Centre for Excellence in Universal Design. https://universaldesign.ie/about-universal-design/definition-and-overview
Kaufmann, C. (2024, May 29). The Digital Divide. Pew.org; The Pew Charitable Trusts. https://www.pew.org/en/trust/archive/spring-2024/the-digital-divide
Microsoft announces this year’s international digital camp for girls in science – Middle East & Africa News Center. (n.d.). News.microsoft.com. https://news.microsoft.com/en-xm/2022/03/18/microsoft-announces-this-years-international-digital-camp-for-girls-in-science
Statistics | National Girls Collaborative Project. (2016). Ngcproject.org. https://ngcproject.org/statistics
Mahina Apuna 