It must have been a slow news day for KSL in Salt Lake City. By requiring that students have Internet access for college assignments, KSL News reports that Education (is) Creating A Digital Divide. The general premise of the story is that students who do not have access to the Internet away from campus are at a disadvantage, compared to students who have access in their dorms, apartments, or homes.
Some say that is leaving students like Chaz Motor, who doesn’t have internet access away from school, at a disadvantage. ”It’s definitely kind of a pain having to run up here to do internet work,” he says.
I don't want to be too hard on Mr. Motor or KSL, but I believe that there is a distinct difference between being inconvenienced and disadvantaged. I would also recommend that KSL turn the hype meter down a notch on their article headlines...it did get my attention, but the report is a bit weak on substance.
Broadband Internet access at home is on the rise...but there are advantages and disadvantages and questions regarding how beneficial it is to be overly attached to a computer monitor. There is room for discussion on college campuses for how much Internet access each course requires...and making that information available prior to registering for a class might make a difference in a student's options.
But let's put the shoes on the other foot for a second...let's say that the only Internet access allowed for all college students would be via a lab or classroom. First of all, the big sucking sound that any such university would hear would be the exodus of students to more connected schools. Secondly, any move toward a less connected student body may place graduates from the restricted Internet access school at a technological disadvantage over graduates from more wired universities. And finally, I believe that we are approaching a time when the level of connectivity will become more a matter of personal choice and/or personal responsibility, particularly as the costs of hardware and access become more affordable. With notable exceptions, whether or not an individual is connected to the Internet is becoming more of a personal choice, NOT a Digital Divide created by education.