Low-income students often live in homes where there is no family computer, so when they attend class with students whose families own a computer, they are disadvantaged. This "digital divide" means that the students without a computer at home are less adept with one in the classroom, and on an ongoing basis. Student access to computers can be increased outside the classroom in a variety of ways. Libraries and universities often have computers available that can be accessed free for a limited time. In addition, there are programs that provide inexpensive laptops to low-income children. The One Laptop Per Child program is one of these, and it supplies durable laptops to children in underdeveloped countries; however, the program has now been expanded to distribute the laptops to needy children in America, as well ("One Laptop Per Child," 2008).
Within the classroom, a way of increasing student access to computers where there are not enough computers for each child to use a separate computer is to divide students into the same number of teams as there are computers, so that they can take turns using the team's computer. If the classroom has only one computer, students can still take turns, but a large-screen TV displaying the computer screen to the class will enable other students to learn vicariously until it is their turn at the keyboard. Once at the keyboard, students should be encouraged to print off the materials they need to use further so that they can benefit from information even though their time at the computer is limited.
Many parents are not aware of the value of technology to their children. Steps that the teacher can take to meaningfully communicate that value to parents include providing examples of the difference in ability of students with access to technology and those without. Actual demonstrations can be helpful in this, as can comparisons of scores on standardized tests. In addi...