The Digital Divide: Teachers, Technology and the Classroom

As we plunge headlong into the technological revolution, educators are being forced to confront thought-provoking questions that have no simple answers. Is technology being used effectively in the classroom, or is it causing more harm than good? Are teachers adequately trained? Who has access and who doesn't? In The Digital Divide: Teachers, Technology and the Classroom, an excellent four-part series on a cutting edge issue, these and many other questions are addressed by teachers, administrators and other educators. The first volume, Wired for What? The Dividends of Universal Access, looks at the problems encountered by schools as they try to stretch an already shrinking dollar to accommodate upgrades, repairs, and constant training for teachers (many feel that in the early grades, the return is not worth the expense). Viewers will see how some teachers successfully integrate technology into their curriculum, while others struggle to justify the costs. Volume two, Fair Play: Achieving Gender Equity in the Digital Age, examines issues of gender equity, asking whether girls are encouraged to use computers as much as boys, whether they enjoy the same access at home, and whether they're inclined to step back in the classroom and let the boys take over. Although girls today can be hampered by society's attitude barriers, the program visits a middle school in Austin, Texas where steps are being taken to encourage young women to participate and gain confidence in using computers. Volume three, Virtual Equality: The Information Revolution and the Inner City, focuses on inner city schools and the social issues that arise as educators struggle to close the "digital divide" between the haves and the have nots. The final volume, Crossing the Divide: Creating a High Tech Work Force, investigates the country's expanding global economy (largely technology based), and the critical need for a highly trained workforce that is both techno-savvy and possesses critical thinking skills. Three high schools are profiled that have successfully implemented programs to help prepare their students for the future. Overall, the series provides an impartial look at pressing issues surrounding technology as it continues to play an increasingly important role in education, society and the work environment. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)