Feature

Panelists Tackle the Digital Divide at Center's Annual Lecture

Robert W. Fairlie, professor of economics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, presented new research on the educational consequences of disparities in student access to computer-based technologies, both in the United States and around the world. "The digital divide is not disappearing in the next few years," he said. "Clearly, there's a big gap, and [it] has been pretty consistent."

Fairlie's talk last month-at the Center for Human Potential and Public Policy's Annual Lecture on Science, Technology & Society-was followed by a discussion with Hardik Bhatt, chief information officer and commissioner of the Department of Innovation & Technology for the City of Chicago, and Eszter Hargittai, associate professor of communication studies at Northwestern University and a fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Ofer Malamud, assistant professor at the Harris School, moderated the panel.

Despite the explosion of Internet use around the world over the last decade, Fairlie pointed out, "the reality is a lot of people don't have Internet and computer access at home." In the United States alone, one-third of the population-including 15 million school-aged children-fall in this category, with particular disparities along race and income.

With more reliance on computers in the classroom and high teacher expectations regarding computer use for homework, Fairlie believes it is important to understand the causes and consequences of these disparities in technology accessibility. His analysis of Census Bureau data found that students with home computers are seven percent more likely to graduate from high school, more likely receive higher grades, and less likely to be suspended.

He also discussed experimental research he conducted on a computer lottery program for low-income students at a California community college. One benefit of this intervention was that minority students had higher course success and graduation rates. But, he stressed more research is needed.

In summing up his work, Fairlie said, "I would not call [technology] the great leveler." He emphasized that while technology is important, it also leads to more online social networking and game playing, which he was not convinced was beneficial for educational attainment.

"Access is not the entire story," said Hargittai. "Skill is an important predictor for who's posting content [online] and influencing broader conversations." And online gaming and social networking sites like Facebook, can benefit students and their computer skills. But she stressed that researchers lack data on Internet and computer use.

"It's extremely important to look at access, but the issue is complex," she said. "Training and awareness can help the digital divide."

Bhatt added that Chicagoans lag behind in terms of their exposure to technology. While providing free computers to Chicago residents is one way to solve this problem, he agreed that awareness of technology and how it is used are also crucial.

Bhatt called this bridging of the digital divide-including infrastructure investment, use of technology in government agencies, and policy discussions around more broadband access-an important issue for Mayor Richard Daley and one on which the city hopes to work with the Obama administration to address.