United we stand, digitally divided we fall

The digital divide, to some it means nothing, the most likely of these candidates being Jack Thompson. To others, it represents the growing hole between those who have a computer and Internet access and those who don’t. In a world that is continuously growing more reliant on the Internet and its abilities to transmit data from thousands of miles away in the blink of an eye, it is quickly becoming necessity for modern humans to have access to the Internet. And yet even with the costs of the materials that are needed to obtain Internet are going down, Surveys and Censuses dictate that the number of people who have Internet access is actually going down. This is especially worrisome for School students, who often require large amounts of time on the Internet in order to complete their work, more then a standard school class can provide. Without Internet, a student is unable to work on assignments in a timely matter. For example, if a student had to do research about World War II, he or she would have to look up the information in massive elaborate textbooks. With so much information to sift through it could take hours for them to even get started, assuming that they even do when faced with the daunting task of looking through a textbook. The beauty of utilizing the Internet is that it provides quick and short summerizations of historical events and other matters of concern. One can often get all the information needed within an hour, or at least when it comes to a standard students work. There’s also the lack of quick and easy communication between students or teachers. When a student is able to email work or information between themselves, it allows them to more easily collaborate their work, therefore increasing efficiency and productivity. Without this boon, a student who is doing something like a group project is unable to readily discuss their ideas or work to their partners, which can lead to confusion and a disjointed effort. This is especially troublesome for those who don’t live near each other, which can make it even more difficult since they may only be able to see each other at school.