This paper examines the evidence for the digital divide based on gender. An overview of research published in the last 20 years draws to the conclusion that females are at a disadvantage relative to men when learning about computers or learning other material with the aid of computer-assisted software. The evidence shows that the digital divide…

This paper explores the potential opportunities that OpenCourseWare (OCW) offers in providing wider access to tertiary education, based on the ideal of "the right to education." It first discusses the wider implications of OCW, and its underlying philosophy, before using a case study of a tertiary preparation program (TPP) at the…

Severe reductions in funding coupled with the imperative to measure and report teachers' ability to integrate technology into their practice pose a significant problem for school districts in New Jersey. This study was designed to identify factors that influence teacher use of technology. A review of the literature identified four areas of…

Tremendous changes are taking place in the world which certainly influence the system of education, and teacher education too cannot remain immune to these global changes. Information Technology (IT] is affecting teachers, individuals and society. Digital learning has opened the doors of classrooms and made knowledge accessible even for those…

There are a variety of different approaches to providing virtual education and significant program differences. This Issues Brief describes a process all virtual education programs should undertake to help best ensure all students have access to the educational opportunities provided by the program. The focus of this Issues Brief is to…

In this ethnographic study of family life, intergenerational video and computer game activities were videotaped and analysed. Both children and adults invoked the notion of a digital divide, i.e. a generation gap between those who master and do not master digital technology. It is argued that the digital divide was exploited by the children to…

Purpose: This paper aims to make a theoretical critique of the revolutionary sociocultural transformations created by e-learning in the manner knowledge is created, codified, retrieved, managed and transmitted across the boundaries of different cultures. Design/methodology/approach: The structure of these transformations remains European and North…

This paper examines the impact of a distance education program offered by the University of Pretoria, South Africa, on the professional practice of teachers. A pilot study was conducted using a combination of surveys and focus group interviews. Findings reveal that the program was beneficial to graduates' personal development, professional…

This paper reports on the re-design of the Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) programme, which is offered by the University of Pretoria through distance education (DE) to teachers in rural South Africa. In 2007, a team re-designed the programme with the goal of promoting access, quality, and student support. The team included an independent…

Based on the findings of a content analysis of representative literature on educational technology, this report examines trends in educational technology from October 1, 1994 through September 30, 1995. Eight trends for 1995 are identified and discussed: (1) computers are pervasive in schools and higher education institutions and virtually every…

While 96% of teachers profess to use technology, this study of 85 teachers in grades 5-12 in Florida and Georgia found that only 4% of teachers actually integrated technology in their instruction. The majority of schools had few computers, fewer Internet-ready computers available for student access, and teachers who had never received any training…

The differences between Whites and African Americans in the United States with respect to computer access, which is the current prerequisite for Internet access and World Wide Web use, were studied. The question was whether observed race differences in access and use can be accounted for by differences in income and education, how access impacts…

Shiksha India, a non-profit organization supported by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was formed with the prime intent to bridge the digital divide in India. Through providing various technology tools to the schools free of cost, Shiksha aims to equip the school children with a variety of academic and life-long skills. The only…

This study of secondary school students was conducted to determine effects of gender, grade, mathematics placement, and access to microcomputers on computer literacy achievement gains. Results indicate males, younger students, and students in college preparatory and advanced math courses gained more than their counterparts. Computer access was…

An introduction of microcomputers into schools has exacerbated the gap in educational opportunity between rich and poor students, according to several recent studies. Various aspects of this problem are discussed, and six suggestions are provided for promoting equal access to computers. (TE)