The Digital Challenge Part 2

                Last week I discussed the Digital Challenge and the difficulties some school districts may face in trying to implement the transfer to a digital textbook curriculum.  This week, the digital challenge will be discussed from the perspective of the students the school districts serve.

                If a school district is able to successfully implement a digital textbook curriculum with teacher buy in and affordable costs, the final challenge will be addressing the digital gap among students who live and attend school in economically distressed communities.  The problem for economically distressed school districts is the ability of its students to obtain access to the digital world outside of the school building.

In many economically distressed school districts, access to the digital world is a barrier for many students.  While students may have access to some digital items, such as a computer, cell phones (mainly pre-paid) and ipods, many are still lacking access to the internet in the home.  In order for school districts to be able to successfully implement a digital textbook curriculum, it will have to assists students with opportunities to obtain access to the internet in their homes. 

School districts will have to lobby local internet providers to embrace the Whitehouse initiative to make the internet affordable.  Currently, Comcast, the largest internet provider in the US has been advertising affordable internet for households that meet certain income requirements.  Unfortunately, not every internet provider has embraced the Whitehouse initiative to provide affordable internet.  Without access to internet in the home, students will not be able fully participate in the digital learning experience.  The lack of access will prohibit students from accessing the materials needed to research assignments, complete assignments, and submit assignments online to the teacher. 

The inability of students to fully participate in the digital learning experience will hamper a school districts ability to provide them with the skills to be successful in a global economy.  The inability to fully participate may also lead to the same academic and social deficits that plague public education.  The digital learning experience is supposed to end the ineffective Socratic method of teaching that dominates public education.  Digital learning is supposed to make the learning experience engaging and interactive by allowing students to explore, expand, and enrich their knowledge of subject matter beyond the academic content of the lesson plan.  Digital learning also provides students with a wealth of tutorials, explanations, and other resources to aid students with subject matter they may have additional questions about or they may not understand. 

Digital learning should be able to significantly close the digital gap and break down barriers to learning only if students are able to fully participate.  It is time for schools and parents to renew their commitment to the education of youth.  By working closely together to ensure students have all the tools and resources to fully participate at school and in the home, students should be able to succeed in school. 

An added bonus to digital learning is the ability for parents and teachers to video conference at times that are convenient to both parties.  Parents will also have the ability to monitor academic progress online which allows them to request academic assistance earlier for their child.  Lastly, students who are sick could participate in school via video conference and work on their assignments while at home or in the hospital.

The success of the Digital Challenge can only occur if students in economically distressed communities are able to fully participate in the digital textbook curriculum.  Full participation requires access to the digital world in the home at an affordable price.