Participate: Access to the Digital Community 3.1.1

3.1.1 Access to the Digital Community

Student access to digital learning can be stifled by not only the ability to access the world wide web using a computer or other device, it can be a discouraging experience for students without some basic knowledge of how to navigate the internet and use applications that are readily available- once online.

Currently, "free" access to the internet is available at libraries, coffee shops, restaurants, and internet cafe's. This access is provided as a service to customers who would normally be purchasing food and/or beverages from the establishment- or, in the case of the library, paid for by tax dollars.  All other access is costly, or is affiliated with a school or business that pays for the access.

In 2013, Mark Zuckerberg collaborated with several international partner businesses, such as Samsung, Ericcson, MediaTek, Nokia, Qualcomm, Opera Software, and of course, Facebook to back an initiative to make the world wide web accessible to all people in all nations.  This is a monumental undertaking, but will result in open access to education, business opportunities, social connections, religious activities, and medical assistance to people all over the world.  Although there are other initiatives, this one is the biggest and has the most powerful backers- who, one would assume, look to gain profit by selling their devices to billions of new customers, albeit at a much lower cost.

Another impediment to accessibility is the lack of understanding of technology and the internet by millions of people in the U.S. alone.  Brick and mortar schools, libraries, and other institutions need to expand the understanding of web 2.0 not only to their students, but to the families of those students.  Community schools and after school sessions could literally liberate hundreds of parents and students at each school location.

While many locations offer a class or two, what is really needed is for each location to offer series of classes in a rotation such that parents can start at any time to learn the basics.  Also- schools could allow after-hours use of their technology to families who don't have access.  This could be done with volunteers as a community service throughout the school year.