September 13, 2005 Source: Mount Allison University:
http://www.mta.ca/news/index.cgi?id=802 Reducing the Digital Divide SACKVILLE, NB — Dr. Michael Fox of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Mount Allison University has just completed the first phase of a research project whose findings are highly anticipated by educators across the province. Fox is analyzing the impact of a Government of New Brunswick initiative to connect students to new technologies through a wireless laptop computer program. The $100,000 project is funded by the New Brunswick Department of Education and is part of a collaborative effort between Dr. Fox who is studying Anglophone Schools, Dr. Sylvie Blain at the Université de Moncton who is looking at Francophone Schools, and Dr. Jim Greenlaw of the School of Education at St. Francis Xavier University. Fox is examining how providing students and teachers with their own individual portable computers will affect the learning experience and the instructional approaches in their classrooms. The study is also investigating the contribution of such a program in reducing the “digital divide” in New Brunswick. The digital divide is the wide division between those who have access to information and communications technologies and are using it effectively, and those who do not. The Government of New Brunswick provided 250 individual portable laptop computers to Grade 7 students and their teachers in three Anglophone schools and three Francophone schools. The research will determine whether the province should proceed with the program to give laptops to all Grade 7 students and their teachers. “New Brunswick joins many other Canadian and American jurisdictions in the evaluation of new technologies in education. The balance between laptop computers for every student, versus traditional text books and the need for more teachers and smaller class sizes are under investigation in this project,” says Fox. The schools taking part in the Anglophone sector are Harry Miller Middle School in District 6, Grand Manan Community School in District 10, and Nashwaaksis Middle School in District 18. Fox explains, “This laptop computer initiative looks at the impact of one-to-one computers in a wireless Internet environment in rural, small town, and large urban centres across the province. It is a very appropriate scale at which to be evaluating such technologies and, to date, students, teachers, and parents have been extremely positive about the experience at the Grade 7 level.” Although the findings are still preliminary, Fox found that students are able to get a better grasp of complex topics and concepts with the use of technology. Students are also better able to remember information and use it to solve problems. The use of computers has also been shown to have an impact on literacy skills. Moreover, being at ease with this type of technology has long-term implications for students. Fox points out that “since information and communications technologies (ICTs) are increasingly becoming a foundation of our societies and economies, the digital divide means that the information ‘have-nots’ are denied the option to participate in new ICT jobs, in e-government, in ICT-improved healthcare, and in ICT-enhanced education.” Fox says, “I believe that this research project allows Mount Allison to make a valuable contribution to the public school education programs of New Brunswick. It is also very rewarding to be working with colleagues in the Meighen Centre and members of the faculty at St. Francis Xavier University and the Université de Moncton.” —30— For further information, contact Dr. Michael Fox, Geography and Environmental Studies Department, Mount Allison University, tel. 364-2440 (mfox@mta.ca)
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