In this episode of Media Inside Out, we’ll take a closer look at who is affected by the digital divide, and what can be done to bridge the gap. Access to technology and the Internet gives us the power to learn, connect and excel. And if you don’t have it…well, that’s the essence of the digital divide in our country; and it’s not just between the have’s and the have-nots, it’s also between the know-how-to-use and the don’t-know-how-to-use. A study from Pew’s Internet and the American Life project states that 15% of Americans 18 or older don’t use the Internet at all. And many simply believe the Internet is too tough to use– so they don’t try. Of course the digital divide isn’t just a personal use issue. Even as more and more schools add computers and iPads to classrooms, teachers still long for the training and support they need to learn how to effectively integrate these technologies in their curriculum. Together they discuss the how technological inequality is affecting Philadelphia and the nation, focusing on what steps that can be taken by private and public corporations and the government to try and solve this problem.
Guests:
Catherine Schifter, an Associate Professor at Temple’s College of Education
Josh Romalis, Executive Director of LIFT-Philadelphia
Christopher Rodgers, a library and technology specialist for local middle school Green Street Friends.