Unequal Internet Access "Widening the Gap" Between Rich and Poor Students
A new survey by the Pew Research Institute found that students from low income households are at a "disadvantage" when it comes to technology in the classroom
As many schools are racing to adopt the latest technologies--tablets, e-readers, cell phones--in their classrooms, low income students and poorly funded school districts are being left in the dust. A survey of middle and high school teachers released Thursday found that the growing gap in internet access between rich and poor students is leading to increasingly troubling disparities in education.
Published by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the survey found that only 3 percent of students in low income families have access to the internet at home through a computer or mobile device; the number rises to 20 percent for middle income children and half for those in higher income families.
According to the report, teachers in urban areas are the least likely to say their students have sufficient access to digital tools in school, compared to rural teachers who are least likely to say their students have sufficient access at home.
The respondents admitted that this growing disparity in access is leading to a gap in performance, with over half saying that "today's digital technologies are widening the gap between the most and least academically successful students."
"Teachers whose students come from the lowest income households feel they are at a disadvantage," said Associate Director of Research, Kristen Purcell.
Other findings include:
- About seven in 10 teachers say their students now rely on the Internet to complete their assignments
- Teachers of low income students, however, are much less likely than teachers of the highest income students to use tablet computers (37% v. 56%) or e-readers (41% v. 55%) in their classrooms and assignments
- Just 15% of [...] teachers whose students are from upper income households say their school is "behind the curve" in effectively using digital tools in the learning process; 39% who teach students from low income households describe their school as "behind the curve"
Educators from low income schools were also least likely to say that their schools did a "good job" providing the digital resources needed or that they received proper training in the new technologies.
_____________________
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
As many schools are racing to adopt the latest technologies--tablets, e-readers, cell phones--in their classrooms, low income students and poorly funded school districts are being left in the dust. A survey of middle and high school teachers released Thursday found that the growing gap in internet access between rich and poor students is leading to increasingly troubling disparities in education.
Published by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the survey found that only 3 percent of students in low income families have access to the internet at home through a computer or mobile device; the number rises to 20 percent for middle income children and half for those in higher income families.
According to the report, teachers in urban areas are the least likely to say their students have sufficient access to digital tools in school, compared to rural teachers who are least likely to say their students have sufficient access at home.
The respondents admitted that this growing disparity in access is leading to a gap in performance, with over half saying that "today's digital technologies are widening the gap between the most and least academically successful students."
"Teachers whose students come from the lowest income households feel they are at a disadvantage," said Associate Director of Research, Kristen Purcell.
Other findings include:
- About seven in 10 teachers say their students now rely on the Internet to complete their assignments
- Teachers of low income students, however, are much less likely than teachers of the highest income students to use tablet computers (37% v. 56%) or e-readers (41% v. 55%) in their classrooms and assignments
- Just 15% of [...] teachers whose students are from upper income households say their school is "behind the curve" in effectively using digital tools in the learning process; 39% who teach students from low income households describe their school as "behind the curve"
Educators from low income schools were also least likely to say that their schools did a "good job" providing the digital resources needed or that they received proper training in the new technologies.
_____________________
As many schools are racing to adopt the latest technologies--tablets, e-readers, cell phones--in their classrooms, low income students and poorly funded school districts are being left in the dust. A survey of middle and high school teachers released Thursday found that the growing gap in internet access between rich and poor students is leading to increasingly troubling disparities in education.
Published by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the survey found that only 3 percent of students in low income families have access to the internet at home through a computer or mobile device; the number rises to 20 percent for middle income children and half for those in higher income families.
According to the report, teachers in urban areas are the least likely to say their students have sufficient access to digital tools in school, compared to rural teachers who are least likely to say their students have sufficient access at home.
The respondents admitted that this growing disparity in access is leading to a gap in performance, with over half saying that "today's digital technologies are widening the gap between the most and least academically successful students."
"Teachers whose students come from the lowest income households feel they are at a disadvantage," said Associate Director of Research, Kristen Purcell.
Other findings include:
- About seven in 10 teachers say their students now rely on the Internet to complete their assignments
- Teachers of low income students, however, are much less likely than teachers of the highest income students to use tablet computers (37% v. 56%) or e-readers (41% v. 55%) in their classrooms and assignments
- Just 15% of [...] teachers whose students are from upper income households say their school is "behind the curve" in effectively using digital tools in the learning process; 39% who teach students from low income households describe their school as "behind the curve"
Educators from low income schools were also least likely to say that their schools did a "good job" providing the digital resources needed or that they received proper training in the new technologies.
_____________________