[DD] - “The Digital Divide in Students’ Usage of Technology Tools: A Multilevel Analysis of the Role of Teacher Practices and Classroom Characteristics” by Seung H. Kim and Joshua Bagaka – Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education

“The Digital Divide in Students’ Usage of Technology Tools: A Multilevel Analysis of the Role of Teacher Practices and Classroom Characteristics” by Seung H. Kim and Joshua Bagaka – Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education

This study chose to investigate the inequity in student experiences with technology across the school district, within the school, and among students. They found that the student to computer ratio is close to 5:1 or less (which was not the case in the early 1990s), yet there is still inequity in technology usage since many teachers and students do not properly implement them. Tying the improper use of technology in the classroom to SES is the fact that in lower SES schools, teachers will use the computer for basic skills review as opposed as for higher order literacy and cognitive schools, like the more affluent schools. 

The study did find that teachers lack of technology integration aid in the ever widening digital divide between students. They call for better technology integration skills and literacy to be included in higher education teacher preparation so that incoming teachers will know how to integrate technology into their subject matter and not just teacher computer literacy skills in isolation.