Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 | Computer Usage, ICT in Africa The
opposite of the digital divide is digital inclusion. You are
digitally included when you have access to digital resources and
have learned how to use them – you have crossed the divide and
are reaping the benefits of access to the digital world.
Teachers, are you digitally included? You should be! Teachers
play a critical role in helping learners to move towards digital
inclusion. But teachers must hurry up – learners are overtaking
them. Many learners have cell phones in their pockets. They
seldom use these devices to make calls – they don’t have money
to do so. They mainly use them to send text messages and
pictures – in digital format – to their friends. Where does this
leave the teacher? A cell phone used to send and retrieve
digital information is a digital device. Learners using such
devices are digitally connected – they have achieved a measure
of digital inclusion and are no longer on the wrong side of the
digital divide. Children are mo