Until starting my readings on this topic I had never heard of the phrase ‘digital divide’. I know from my past practicum experiences that there was a correlation between high needs / low income schools and the lack of technology not only in the schools but also at home compared to the low needs / high income schools with an abundance of technology at the school and home fronts. I think it was very naive of me to think that everyone
is equal and because we all live in North America, and especially BC, we all have internet, don’t we? And then I saw the map.
Julia posted a link to a map (found here: http://www.pathwaystotechnology.ca/interactive-map/mapviz?viz=MAP&q=select+col2+from+2352792+&h=false&lat=54.57158764474383&lng=-126.55798400000003&z=5&t=1&l=col2) that showed just how many Aboriginal communities just on our island, let alone the rest of BC or even Canada, that are not connected to the internet or health care. When first reading the map I was very confused and even now I am not completely sure that I am reading it correctly. If I am, there are five ‘Vancouver Island Health Authority” catchment regions that do not have access to health care or internet and another five that have no high speed internet access. With wifi being what it is now, you would think that everyone would have internet access but again, that is a testament to my naivety.
When looking at the stats for US households with internet access, I am amazed at what is shown. I have noticed that the stats are five years old so it would interesting to see what they are like now but I am sure the ratios will probably be the same. I noticed that the higher the income and education attainment of the household, the more likely they are to have internet access. This is understandable and it is an assumption I had already made. What really interested me is that the Native American population had the lowest percentage
of access and the second highest percentage of dial up access. If someone were to look at this chart and make assumptions I would hazard a guess that they would assume that Native American households have the lower income lower education families. I know that for a lot of First Nations people that I know, that is the stereotype they face, and I also know that people who take in foster children from homes that can’t afford to look after their children are a majority of first nations children.
Also while I was looking at the connectivity map tonight I was reminded of the current commercial starring Gene Simmons (among others). The commercial (found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nIhqMpq34gc ) asks watchers to go to their website
(www.olpccanada.com)
and donate to their cause. According to their website, their goal is “to provide
learning centered technology to Aboriginal youth across Canada [as they are] the
fastest growing demographic in Canada.” To date they have already given 3,600
laptops to aboriginal children ages 6-12 across Canada who live in rural, remote
and urban communities. This makes me wonder about all the other children in need
as my first practicum was a very low income school but I guess they have to
start somewhere.
is equal and because we all live in North America, and especially BC, we all have internet, don’t we? And then I saw the map.
Julia posted a link to a map (found here: http://www.pathwaystotechnology.ca/interactive-map/mapviz?viz=MAP&q=select+col2+from+2352792+&h=false&lat=54.57158764474383&lng=-126.55798400000003&z=5&t=1&l=col2) that showed just how many Aboriginal communities just on our island, let alone the rest of BC or even Canada, that are not connected to the internet or health care. When first reading the map I was very confused and even now I am not completely sure that I am reading it correctly. If I am, there are five ‘Vancouver Island Health Authority” catchment regions that do not have access to health care or internet and another five that have no high speed internet access. With wifi being what it is now, you would think that everyone would have internet access but again, that is a testament to my naivety.
When looking at the stats for US households with internet access, I am amazed at what is shown. I have noticed that the stats are five years old so it would interesting to see what they are like now but I am sure the ratios will probably be the same. I noticed that the higher the income and education attainment of the household, the more likely they are to have internet access. This is understandable and it is an assumption I had already made. What really interested me is that the Native American population had the lowest percentage
of access and the second highest percentage of dial up access. If someone were to look at this chart and make assumptions I would hazard a guess that they would assume that Native American households have the lower income lower education families. I know that for a lot of First Nations people that I know, that is the stereotype they face, and I also know that people who take in foster children from homes that can’t afford to look after their children are a majority of first nations children.
Also while I was looking at the connectivity map tonight I was reminded of the current commercial starring Gene Simmons (among others). The commercial (found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nIhqMpq34gc ) asks watchers to go to their website
(www.olpccanada.com)
and donate to their cause. According to their website, their goal is “to provide
learning centered technology to Aboriginal youth across Canada [as they are] the
fastest growing demographic in Canada.” To date they have already given 3,600
laptops to aboriginal children ages 6-12 across Canada who live in rural, remote
and urban communities. This makes me wonder about all the other children in need
as my first practicum was a very low income school but I guess they have to
start somewhere.
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