The Role Of Digital Divide In Australia

Technology has rapidly transformed pedagogy in learning environments. Learning does not just occur in modern day classrooms, however, digital technology and online blended learning strategies are now incorporated in a number of university courses (McKenzie and Pizzica, 2014). The introduction of digital tools in the classroom would mean that problems such as digital inequity could arise and so, a digital divide could develop. Research suggests the digital divide is complex (Selwyn, 2010) and needs to be considered “not just in terms of access to and use of technologies, but in terms of whether the use leads to desired learning and graduate outcomes for the students”. For this reason, the topic this report will delve into is: The digital divide …show more content…
There is, however, also a digital divide within NSW between many State and Independent schools. The interviewee explained that most State schools she has taught at did not have access to IPad’s compared to the Independent school she is currently at. She stated that the state schools near Campbelltown did not have any IPad’s at all whereas North Sydney State school’s had iPad’s and laptops. There is no funding for the use of technology at these schools, the difference in the access to technology can be seen as the difference between areas socio-economic statuses. North Sydney is known to be quite an affluent area; therefore, it stands to reason that the students there could have more access to technology as their parents could afford to buy it. Wendy identified that a solution to the digital divide within the schools of NSW could funding could be distributed on a needs basis. She further explained that it is critical to use the demographic of the school as a guide and determine which schools are in need of funding. At the school that Wendy is currently at, 20% of the students do not have internet access at home. Adjustments can be made for these students but do to the online nature of a lot of the classwork and IPad applications, not having internet access at home can be a huge disadvantage to the students (Johnson 2015). Johnson (2015) proposes that at schools where there is a large number of students without internet access at home, the teachers should modify their teaching to include programs that can be stored on devices that don’t need internet. This could alleviate the stress some students feel as they try and finish tasks in allocated times at