Course Description

The Bridging the Digital Divide course explores the social, economic, cultural, and political implications of the digital divide, or the gap between those with access to and understanding of information technology and those without. The course is taught in a mentor/mentee style where each student has an individual mentor throughout the semester to assist him or her in grasping concepts, mastering computer tutorials, comprehending readings, and completing in and out of class homework assignments. The course offers participants the opportunity to explore the theoretical concept of the digital divide, gain a foundation of computer-based skills that they will draw on in other courses at URI and throughout their careers, and build a set of professional material such as a resume and a cover letter. Additionally, participants will work collaboratively on developing, expanding, and enhancing a URI Digital Divide course website, which will be updated and enhanced every semester by current students.

The course focuses on theoretical issues pertaining to the digital divide in order to lay a conceptual foundation as to why students need to understand and appreciate the course material. The assignments and professional material challenges them to process and personalize conceptual issues relating to the digital divide while at the same time they challenge them to practice and improve vital computer-based skills. The course emphasizes software that is available on computers throughout campus such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Front Page. This software is generally regarded to be accessible, affordable, and applicable in both academic and business environments. As such, students will be able to use the skills that they gain from this course in other classes and in their professional careers.

Course Requirements

Course goals will be pursued through in-class discussions, homework, reading, and research assignments, informational videos, computer tutorials, computer-skills development exercises, and out of class interaction between the mentor and the mentee. Mentor and mentee teams are required to attend every class meeting, participate in discussions, complete in and out of class assignments, and complete all reading assignments. Participants must complete and present the final project, which is a personal website with all previous homework material posted on it and they must contribute to continuously improving the URI Digital Divide course website. The final grade will be determined by lab assignments (30%), class participation including contribution to the course website (40%), and the final project (30%).

Learning Outcomes

·         Students will understand the causes and effects of the gap in access and skills between socially stratified groups in American and global society, and the impact of the gap for the future of democracy.

·         Mentee students will learn skills in designing and presenting information to class members applying their knowledge of software based on the lessons of the course.

·         Mentor students will develop skills in facilitating learning of assorted software packages.

·         Students will collaboratively with the instructor to develop a Bridging the Digital Divide website.

·         Mentors and mentees will experience a productive, collaborative, and mutually beneficial relationship.

Primary Reading

Norris, Pippa. Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet Worldwide

Supplementary Reading

· What is the Digital Divide? By Harouna Ba at http://tcla.gseis.ucla.edu/divide/politics/ba.html

· Falling Through the Net: Toward Digital Inclusion, U.S. Department of Commerce, October 2000 http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fttn00/contents00.html

· Online Content for Low Income and Underserved Americans: The Digital Divide’s New Frontier. A Strategic Audit of Activities and Opportunities. The Children’s Partnership. March 2000 at http://www.childrenspartnership.org/pub/low_income

· Why Aren’t More People Online – Ipsos-Reid (June 2001) Chart: http://www.ipsosreid.com/media/content/pdf/mr010515_1t.pdf

· Website Resources: The Digital Divide Network at http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org and The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Digital Divide Web site at http://www.digitaldivide.gov

Summary Syllabus

Week One: What is the digital divide?

Topics: Introduction to the Digital Divide: Definitions, Implications, History, and Statistics:

How are we defining the term? Where are we going in the semester?

Agenda: (1.) Outline course goals and objectives and lay a conceptual framework for the entire semester (2.) Short lecture and discussion on theoretical concepts relating to the digital divide including definitions, implications, and current statistics (3.) View portion of the film “Virtual Equality” and discuss Assignment: (1.) Read Harouna Ba article titled “What is the Digital Divide.” (2.) Read the Introduction and Chapter One: The Digital Divide in Pippa Norris book

Week Two: How has our understanding of the digital divide evolved over time?

Topics: Current Research and Emerging Trends: How has the Internet changed society? How have we gotten to the point that we are at today?

Agenda: (1.) Discuss how the Ba article (2.) Microsoft Word Tutorial #1 lesson 1-4

Assignment: reading TBA, MS Word Assignment 1

Week Three: How does the digital divide influence socioeconomic class?

Topics: Introduction to the Social and Economic Implications of the Digital Divide: What are the social implications of technology and how does it impact economic outcomes and potential?

Agenda: Complete Microsoft Word Tutorial #2 lesson 5-7, resumes

Assignment: reading TBA, continue to build resume

Week Four: How does the digital divide affect citizenship and democracy?

Topics: Digital Democracy and Informed Citizenship: How does technology help people become more aware and informed? How does it assist them in being proactively involved in their community?

Agenda: Microsoft PowerPoint Tutorial

Assignment: reading TBA, PPoint assignment

Week Five: How does the digital divide affect me?

Topics: Examining Our Personal Experience With the Digital Divide: What is my personal relationship to the issues raised so far? How have I seen these issues in my everyday life? School? Work? How does the digital divide affect music and the arts?

Agenda: Movie

Assignment: reading TBA

Week Six: How does technology impact us differently at different times in our lives?

Topics: Children, Opportunity, Education, Careers and the Digital Divide: At this particular point in our lives, why does the digital divide matter? How about at other times in our lives?

Agenda: Excel tutorial 1, Excel Assignment part 1

Assignment: reading TBA

Week Seven: Who has access to information technology and what factors determine this
access?

Topics: The All Important Issue of Access: How do levels or degrees of access vary by group, race, economic class, and geography

Agenda: Excel tutorial 2, Excel Assignment part 2

Assignment: reading, TBA

Week Eight: What is the difference between physical access and the quality of access/
instruction?

Topics: Access, Access, Access: What are the implications of differing levels and qualities of access?

Agenda: Microsoft Front Page Tutorial One

Assignment: reading TBA, continue to work on webpage

Week Nine: Who is attempting to confront the Digital Divide and how are they doing it?

Topics: Confronting the Digital Divide: What can be done about it? How are the approaches of organizations and institutions different and what are their strengths and weaknesses? How are Non-Governmental Organizations confronting the digital divide? What can I do as a student at the University of Rhode Island?

Agenda: Microsoft Front Page Tutorial Two

Assignment: reading TBA, continue to work on webpage

Week Ten: What is my Action Plan to eliminate the digital divide?

Topics: Prepare Final Project and present/discuss personal website.

Agenda: Discuss how the awareness, skills, and material from this class will be used to enhance future opportunities. Prepare student presentations

Assignment: Complete final presentation and prepare presentation

Week Eleven: Student presentatations, course reflections and Pizza!

Topics and agenda: Fun!