RETHINKING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN EDUCATION

This paper aims to discuss the Digital Divide in education as well as possible solutions for it. It consists of 3 main parts. In the first part we discuss the theoretical framework of the Digital Divide and factors that contribute to its existence. This part is followed by specific examples that try to cope with the Digital Divide in education and bridge the gap. The last part of this paper is consisted of the conclusions and ideas for the future. O'neill et al (2004) mention the basic switch that the learning styles have sustained due to eLearning implementation. In education, the Digital Divide seems more evident. On the one hand there are schools where the learning experience is enhanced by the use of new technologies and on the other hand there are schools with no internet access whatsoever. This paper analyses the concept of digital divide by presenting examples of educational projects based on new technologies and policies that have taken place in order to bridge the digital divide. Each of the described projects was designed in an attempt to improve education through new technologies, but it ran into unexpected difficulties and as a result it did not have the anticipated success. But learning from someone's mistakes is crucial for developing a better model of digital inclusion that might work in the future. Warschauer (2002) is making a comparison between the digital divide and the literacy gap. Sixteen years later, it can be argued that the literacy gap has been gaped to an extent and that the new literacy gap is the digital divide. In this paper we will give an analysis of the digital divide, we will bring examples of previous projects that tried to close the gap between those who have access and those who do not and we will suggest ways of handling the problems.