I have changed where I teach from an four year to a community college; the grant dried up. I am amazed at how few of my present students have a computer at home (less than 60%). Most do not have a printer (70%) and only small number have the Internet.
I get tired of hearing the educational technology gurus talk about all the technology available to students. Web 1.0 is not a reality for my students. PDAs are not a reality. Digital cameras are not a reality. Internet is not a reality. Even a computer is not a reality. One of my student rented a computer since she does not have one. She had to decide what to cut from her small budget so that she could manage the rental for this semester.
When will the gurus realize that the Digital Divide exists! When will we realize that the digital divide is wide in the USA! When will federal and state governments try to reduce the Digital Divide so that students who are trying to better their lives can have technology?