Digital Divide: Homework Gap in Society’s 21st Century Essay (Article)

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Currently, information and computer technology are considered to be the primary means of production. Computer literacy and ICT (information and communications technology skills) are often critical to an individual’s ability to improve their social standing through education or employment. Despite the near-complete Internet penetration of some countries, not all social groups have the chance to equally enjoy the opportunities that the rise of the digital age presents. One of the aspects that require closer research is the impact of access to the Internet on academic performance. Today, homework assignments often require collecting information from the web or submitting tasks online, which can be impeded if a student’s family cannot afford a computer.

Rogers (2016) introduces the term “digital divide” to denote the new type of inequality that has emerged in the digital age. The researcher opines that technology has an ambiguous impact on today’s society. On the one hand, it encourages creativity and propels individuals’ efforts to change their lives and the lives of others for the best. On the other hand, the lack of access to technology can be detrimental to the already marginalized groups and disenfranchise them from more privileged, tech-savvy peers. For instance, Jackson et al. (2006) found that children who do not have access to the Internet at home show worse academic results as compared to those who do.

Hill and Lawton (2018) state that while the poverty rates around the world are declining, the inequality between and within many countries is exacerbating. Hill and Lawton (2018) specifically draw attention to the purpose of education in the modern world. The researchers point out that governments are still primarily financially incentivized to support education. Since preparing cadres is seen as an international competitive advantage, these countries represent the model where inequality is the norm. Hill and Lawton (2018) are skeptical about the power of online education to tip the balance: its accessibility is contingent on the use of technology, which is again, a privilege.

References

Hill, C., & Lawton, W. (2018). Universities, the digital divide and global inequality. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 40(6), 598-610.

Jackson, L. A., Von Eye, A., Biocca, F. A., Barbatsis, G., Zhao, Y., & Fitzgerald, H. E. (2006). Does home internet use influence the academic performance of low-income children?. Developmental Psychology, 42(3), 429.

Rogers, S. E. (2016). Bridging the 21st century digital divide. TechTrends, 60(3), 197-199.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, February 20). Digital Divide: Homework Gap in Society's 21st Century. https://ivypanda.com/essays/digital-divide-homework-gap-in-societys-21st-century/

Work Cited

"Digital Divide: Homework Gap in Society's 21st Century." IvyPanda, 20 Feb. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/digital-divide-homework-gap-in-societys-21st-century/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Digital Divide: Homework Gap in Society's 21st Century'. 20 February.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Digital Divide: Homework Gap in Society's 21st Century." February 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/digital-divide-homework-gap-in-societys-21st-century/.

1. IvyPanda. "Digital Divide: Homework Gap in Society's 21st Century." February 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/digital-divide-homework-gap-in-societys-21st-century/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Digital Divide: Homework Gap in Society's 21st Century." February 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/digital-divide-homework-gap-in-societys-21st-century/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1