7)+Digital+Divide

__ Digital Divide __ The digital divide involves the unequal access to information and skills for accessing, acquiring, and creating using technology. This divide exists for both students and teachers. Teacher-librarians can minimize the effects of the digital divide by addressing the four levels of influence in schools: access, skill, policy, and motivation. (Mardis, 2008)

To begin with, conducting a technology survey will determine what the technology needs are for students and teachers. Access is a concern at my school for students. With 18 classrooms and only one full and one half computer lab, accessing computers is difficult. While many students have computers and internet access at home, there is still a significant group that does not. Without access at school, they are not acquiring the necessary skills to be information literate. Skill is a concern for many teachers at my school. Classroom teachers have been provided with a laptop that addresses their own access issues. The laptops are intended to facilitate the integration of technology in the classroom. However, these laptops were distributed without providing professional development to effectively use these laptops and access software such as Web 2.0 tools.

Teacher-librarians can ensure that equity exists for all students by collaborating and developing inquiry projects that are infused with technology for all classrooms. Classroom teachers can learn skills needed for technology integration by observing and participating in the development of these projects with the teacher-librarian. 