Despite the overall high Internet penetration rate in the United States, over 20% of American households have no access to the Internet in their homes. In urban areas this figure drops significantly, but for those students without access to the Internet, it borders on a disability (Gowen 2009).
The Internet has become a crucial part of our lives, a phenomenon that has extended to the classroom. Students without access to this crucial resource are often ostracized and their learning is seriously stunted. Teachers must take care to develop and execute lesson plans that take this issue into consideration.
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"Learning Plans accommodating Poor Internet Penetration".
Lack of access to the Internet handicaps students in many non-obvious ways. It is clear that teachers should not assign homework that requires Internet access, yet they must also understand that these students will not be able to research topics independently as well as other students can, nor will they be able to use many multimedia resources such as YouTube or Khan Academy. Those two limitations rarely will actually impede the completion of an assignment, but will prevent a student from seeking additional knowledge, or diving deeper into a topic. Teachers are most successful when they both educate and inspire their students. In the modern world, most inspired students turn to the Internet for further knowledge, yet teacher must develop learning plans that can accommodate those without access while developing computer skills that the students can utilize after their K-12 education. Unless this is done, they will fall behind their more computer and Internet adept peers, and lack the deep knowledge that the Internet can provide to an interested learner.
To address this digital divide school districts should provide robust and easily accessible computer resources to their students. Computer labs that are only open during school hours, or are undersupplied and/or understaffed, are unacceptable. Students must have access to modern computers during and after school, and these labs must be staffed with qualified individuals eager to teach.
Additionally, basic computer literacy should be taught through required classes to develop understanding of Internet research techniques, word processing programs, and other computer skills at the appropriate grade levels. When resources permit, advanced electives in computer-related topics should be offered. Basic programming or graphic design classes can stimulate interest in a topic these students may not have been exposed to.
- Gowen, A. (December 2009). Without ready access to computers, students struggle. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com
