Crossing the Digital Divide

I just got around to reading the latest American Libraries Direct and there is an article that is relevant to our recent discussion on the digital divide. Mike Cassidy's article MacArthur Foundation researchers find a new digital divide that is hard to cross discusses the opportunities and drawbacks that come with technology. The research finds that kids are learning a great deal outside of school and much of that is from their interactions on the internet. This can lead to them forming new ideas and interest that they might otherwise have not been exposed to. However they still need guidance to channel their experiences properly and "...connect their new media engagements toward more academic, civic, and production-oriented activities." And of course there is the problem of those children who attend poorer school and are from poor families. They are much less likely to get the access and guidance they need. Just something else to think about.