Tough Time Without Technology

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday September 12, 2006

COURTNEY TRENWITH

In today's digital age, it's commonplace for school students to use computers to research and write their assignments. COURTNEY TRENWITH asks what happens to those families who can't afford a home computer.

John Clark worries that his son Giles is not reaching his full potential at school because he can't afford a computer at home.

The pensioner and single father has tried to rent one but the $100 per month payments are too expensive.

Instead, Giles spends lunchtimes researching in the school library and has to write his assignments by hand three or four times.

"As a dad I feel bad because I'm letting him down," Mr Clark said.

The Clark family symbolises the digital divide that has developed with the increased use of computers and the internet.

Schools have understandably been enthusiastic in taking up the technology, with the State Government spending $676 million in the past four years to bring the computer-student ratio to 1:6.

However, with increased use of computers for research, presenting assignments, creating graphics and diagrams and even digital projects, students whose families cannot afford the technology are suffering.

In 2004, the Smith Family commissioned a report, Barriers to Participation, that found just 52 per cent of the most disadvantaged households owned a computer, compared with about 67 per cent of the most well-off families.

Disadvantaged families were also less likely than well-off household to be connected to the internet (27 per cent compared with 35 per cent).

The Smith Family has identified technology literacy as one of the three skills "imperative" for the ability to participate fully in society.

"The research that both the Smith Family and other people have undertaken has proven that to participate in society people must have access to computers, and computers are an integral part of education today, so if you couldn't read and write 20 years ago, it's like not being able to use a computer today," Smith Family information communication technology literacy program manager Jenny Dean said.

Brand new computers can cost more than $1000.

Second-hand machines cheap enough to fit into a family's budget are often too slow, do not have enough storage space or do not have the software students need to keep up in class.

The Smith Family calculated that an affordable price for most disadvantaged families was $200 for a complete package, including a refurbished computer, software and 12 months of internet access.

Giles is an A-grade student at Oak Flats High School but he believes access to a computer would improve his marks.

He spends at least one lunchtime per week using the internet in the library for assignments, but that's not enough time.

"It stops me from doing assignments and big presentations," Giles said.

"The quality of (work) drops a little bit because I'm not spending as much time as I could on the computer. If you have half an hour (during lunch) it's not as good as three hours."

Giles is also a talented movie-maker.

He creates movies for the school in his Year 10 multimedia class and during his lunchtimes.

Giles has so much potential he won a school award usually reserved for Year 11 and 12 students.

He would love to be able to extend himself but he doesn't have time because he can't use a computer at home.

Mr Clark said Giles missed out on work experience at a large multimedia company because he didn't have a computer.

He received a donated computer last month, but the 11-year-old machine was unable to do many of the things Giles needed.

"It's better than not having a computer, but it's got Windows '95, so it's 11 years old, it's only got a two-gigabyte hard drive - most iPods have got 10 times that - so it's not really what I'm looking for to do my work," Giles said.

Mr Clark rented a high-tech computer for Giles but the payments became too expensive.

"I feel like I'm holding him back, but he always says, 'Dad, it's all right I understand'. But deep down the answer is yes, it's holding him back because he's got so much potential," Mr Clark said.

Lack of a computer will also impact on Giles' Higher School Certificate.

"I've picked some hard subjects, like three-unit maths and physics," Giles said.

"You have to write a 5000-word essay for physics and I have to write it three or four times; that will take a bit of time."

An OECD report released last year supports Giles' claims.

The report, titled Are Students Ready for a Technology Rich World?, found that "students with computer skills perform better in key school subjects than those with limited experience or lacking IT confidence".

University of Wollongong Faculty of Education Associate Dean Brian Ferry said there was definitely a divide between students who had a computer at home and those who did not.

"Students who have access to a good computer at home and broadband internet can access virtually the world of information that's out there at the click of a few buttons," Associate Professor Ferry said.

"So the computer, through the tools that it has, allows them to quickly write things, word process things, do calculations if they want, use CD-ROMs (and) use online encyclopedias, so there's a whole wealth of material. Students who don't have that access have to go to the old-fashioned ways - books, which by the time they've been printed are out of date."

Computers and the internet are also fast becoming important tools of communication.

Prof Ferry described a new "community of process", where students use emails to do school work together.

"Students are working together on a particular problem and they will help each other - it could be solving a maths problem, it could be about writing an assignment, doing an essay, something where they share (ideas), but of course they need to access to a computer to do that," Prof Ferry said.

NSW Department of Education and Training regional director Graeham Kennedy said technology had helped transform teaching and learning in schools.

"Students have a natural enthusiasm and efficacy with technology. I have noticed in schools that students become immediately engaged by technology; that means technology can make learning more fun, relevant and interesting for students," Mr Kennedy said.

Students have unprecedented access to technology in schools and the future looks even more tech-savvy.

Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt announced last week the creation of "virtual classrooms" so students in remote areas could access subjects not offered at their school.

The students will be able to communicate with a teacher and other students studying the course using video conferencing, emails and shared electronic whiteboards.

The Government is also piloting "virtual universities", where students will be able to watch and listen to academic lectures via video conferencing and real-time audio.

Students and teachers also now have their own email accounts.

Spending on technology in schools has increased tenfold since 1995, to $180 million this financial year.

"What that does is, it ensures that irrespective of the circumstances or background of a student, any student in a public school has extraordinary access to state-of-the-art technology," Mr Kennedy said.

Mr Kennedy denied an increased use of technology in schools had led to an inequity between students who had a computer at home and those who didn't.

"No school would put a student in a position where he or she is disadvantaged because they don't have a computer at home," Mr Kennedy said.

"Schools would find other ways to support a student in achieving the outcomes of the course if they didn't have ready access to a computer at home."

He also noted the increased access to computers at public libraries and other centres.

The Smith Family also has established several programs to help provide computers to disadvantaged families.

In partnership with Microsoft, the charity has set up 90 centres across Australia that provide free computer training.

More than 5000 people have accessed the Unlimited Potential centres in the past two years.

"The aim is to provide opportunities to disadvantaged Australians to access IT training for free or for a very low cost," Ms Dean said.

The Smith Family also works with Infoxchange Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that takes donated computers, deletes the data and loads new software for disadvantaged families to use.

The companies also have set up a hotline for users.

Ms Dean said the Smith Family was looking for business sponsors for a new initiative that would provide more families with a computer and internet access.

Businesses are needed to sponsor a package including a second-hand computer, internet access and software, which would be sold to families for $200.

Home computer and internet use, by family income - 2001 graphic not available on the database.

© 2006 Illawarra Mercury

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