Sunday, March 1, 2009

Digital Divide

Foremost, I found the movie to be dated. In an enviornment in which technology plays a huge role, and in which technology is quickly outdated and updated, I was not impressed by the story of the first high school to be equipped with internet access. I was equally unimpressed with the high school that was built primarily for the use of new technologies, to give students a "heads-up" in the presumed technologically driven workforce. Though, yes, they were correct to assume that technology would play an increasing role in future years, the high school lacked essential social elments that no computer could replace.
While the new technology driven high school did focus on group work, they only focused on one type of work enviornment, presumably leaving many of their students without the skills, or lacking in the skills, necessary to suceed in college, or other trained professions. Technology is used in all fields, and it is important to be familiar with technology, but it should be introduced in a format that leaves students with the option to seek any career path. I didn't like how the school focused on how work would be in an office, or a cubicle, because technology transcends into so many professions. You need to be technologically literate in journalism, if your an author typing at home, medical work.....so many things. I felt the school was limiting.
I was more impressed with the traditional high school that implemented computers into the classroom. They took a formula that was working, and added computers to it, further boosting the kids computer literacy and comfort in using computers. It also left the students with options, and they were able to study other important academic subjects WHILE using computers.
I did think thhe video made an important point about the digital divide. Though I feel the digital divide, though it does still exist, is less prealent in the age of Youtube and Facebook, which widely appeals to all genders, races, and people of all classes. The reason it may be less prevalent, could be because many users of the internet today, had computers in their classrooms early on. They were taught in elementary school how to use a computer and this knowledge has transcended into society.

No comments:

Post a Comment