This information just in from Andy Carvin...
The Pew Internet Project just released their latest
report on the state of
at-home broadband access in the
US:
http://www.pewinter
Among the findings:
* African Americans: 40% of now have broadband at
home,
up by 8 percentage points from 2006.
* Rural Americans: 31% of those
living in rural
areas have broadband at home, up 6 percentage points
from
2006.
* Low income households, that is, adults who
report living in
households with annual household
incomes under $30,000 annually: 30% of those
in this
group report having broadband at home, up by 9
percentage points
the prior year and matching the
end-of-2005 national average.
Read Andy's post here:
http://www.pbs.
While these numbers are encouraging in that the gap is closing, it is still distressing that well over half of African Americans and rural residents do not have broadband access, and from the study, are still not using the Internet to the extent that their peers do. For both groups, one of the key access points to the Internet is in the schools. What we do there to increase both access and skill in using these resources is critical.
Posted by: TeachMoore | July 06, 2007 at 11:18 PM
I am in absolute agreement with you Renee. If teachers want a reason to embrace digital literacy, that is it. If these kids do not get access in our classrooms-- then we are actually part of their struggle to succeed.
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 07, 2007 at 12:41 AM