Ted Nellen

Does the Digital Divide Still Exist?

Premiere Essay, Under the direction of Ted Nellen

Commentary on EdTech Articles and Conference Responses

When we think of the digital divide what immediately pops into most people's minds is that the mass population is divided between people who are technologically savvy or the computer illiterate. The latter, whom I should emphasize, are the people who are intimidated of even buying a computer or perhaps turning one on. But after reading the ten articles from Edtechnot.com I realize that Ted Nellen tapped into the psyche that it is "our fear to change." It is weird how our psyche works, some people are motivated by fear to change and others whom fear it become paralyzed, and make no change what so ever. But maybe that's because we have been wired as children/students our whole life; that when in doubt not to make a rash decision. So now I believe the digital divide crosses over not only to my neighbors across America but to my collegeaus as well.

I believe this is the first time in my life I am beginning to see education become a socialistic society. That it is about time that we are privy to information that was secluded from us for years, especially as educators. It also is about time this country as a whole starts to look at the world internationally instead of just nationally. What Bill Gates has done for third world countries has been amazing, because I too believe that we need to have these third world countries become literate, create job markets for them and let them help pull the financial burden that we have carried for years. I believe it is about time we have alternative schools for students with mental or physical handicaps, or learning disabilities that these people can live and work productive lifestyles via the computer. I truly believe are in the beginning of a revolution and since the positives out way the negatives we must continue moving forward with distant educational technology for all. This change will definitely reshape the educational system forever; moreover, will give students a chance to shine and excel in the areas they are gifted in with alternative school tracks to meet their schedules. I agree with Ted Nellen that school should go all year round as well to meet such goals.

Since the big picture has become larger, is it really our jobs as teachers to police the Internet for our students? I think it is our job to educate them what is morally right from wrong, how choices have consequences, how freedom demands responsibility, how to pigeon-hole inappropriate sites but explain to the students why these inappropriate sites exist. I don't feel we should censor websites by filtering our computers because it limits the teacher's teaching potential as well. Students will always be subjected to inappropriate behavior, entertainment; whether at home, at a friend's home or just in the general public. I agree that children today are growing up too fast but we have no way of stopping these free-speech amendments that the media, advertising firms, use to abuse using to push consumer products. So let's beat them by educating the students like we have been doing the last several years with child/sex abuse. It is parallel to a drug dealer peddling drugs at an elementary school to or from school, similar to Ted Nellen's analogy of the "Good Humor truck pushing drugs" instead of ice cream. And make corporate America in return support the cost of running such expensive equipment nationwide in all the school districts, reread Dr. Larry Cuban's proposal for it is flawless. The reason I am bringing this point up is because so many of my collegeaus in this class are so concerned about the students accessing such sites accidentally. Communication and teamwork are the only key essentials to beating the problem. I truly felt that our classmates Suzette Douglas and Dino DeAscentiis shared the same opinion as myself.

Jane Healey brought up some interesting points about whether or not a computer stunts the cerebral growth of a child under the age of seven years old. Another classmate Anna Steegmann, introduced a great point that violence on television has detrimental affects on a child's mental health, and I am dying to read the resource where she found this information. School psychologists must research such data and make it a part of the computer curriculum's set up across the country. And unless there is a national budget proposed and enforced for all school to have the same technologies, training and maintenance this type of education will be lacking and in result not working to its fullest potential. I don't even think it is necessary we have enough computers for every student in the entire school, but enough computers to teach an entire class. We must be selective like Jason Ohler spoke about, how "selective the Amish people are adopting different types of technology" mostly based on the individuals needs.

I feel that Alan Warhaftig's flowery approach about the Internet being an "automated battlefield" and questioning whether computer usage "inhibits motor skills or visual development or the ability to conceptualize the world," was unjust to the promotion of distant online learning. Such comments as these ties into what Judy Lightfoot was talking about with technophobic teachers to afraid use active learning as a main ingredient to new types of literary experiences." And I agree with David Warlick that some concepts are done best still "with pencil and paper." But writing for me like David Warlick mentioned "becomes a craft not a task of manual labor…enriched by graphics and animation." As Ted Nellen said before this generation of students are growing up in an electronic fast food world.

I do not think that our children have become "guinea pigs" as Jane Healy has strong convictions about the matter because that would make us (the teachers) rodents as well. I believe if any machine is used properly that it can only breed higher levels of critical thinking, i.e. the graphing calculator which was badgered for years until it recently became accepted on the new regent exams to measure assessments of students' mathematical abilities. As a mathematician and scientist I truly live for the future and I continuously grow with and for change but there is no doubt in my mind that artificial intelligence inside a machine will never replace the human mind of a teacher.