Digital divide: The impact of home information and communication technology access on K--12 learning opportunities

In recent years, information and communication technology (ICT) access has been the focal point of maintaining a competitive edge in a global economy. However, for education, the focus has been on access to ICT during core school hours. Obtaining a quality education is required to remain competitive in a global economy. The Digital Revolution brought the need to transform the way we teach and learn in education. New and innovative methods of instructional delivery were devised to provide students with the flexibility of learning regardless of time, place or pace. Subsequently, equity in learning became a major issue on learning in 21st century education.;Because of the benefits that home computer ownership brings to innovative approaches to learning in K-12 education, home ICT access was the focus of this study. This study examined whether a digital divide for learning opportunities in K-12 education exists based on home ICT access. It was also conducted to determine if opportunities for participating in innovative, 21st century learning are impeded by the lack of adequate home ICT access, and the relationship between home ICT access and socioeconomic status as a factor in contributing to successful learning opportunities. Ensuring that educational opportunities are made available to all students is imperative, if we intend to enforce implementation of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The implications of NCLB and its primary goal to ensure equity of access for all students in the educational system must be investigated, in the advent of new approaches to learning. The study examined the K-12 population based upon demographic factors such as socioeconomic status to determine if the disparity in equity of ICT home access prevents participation in learning opportunities, thus limiting the quality of education received by certain population groups.;Although internet connections are prevalent in most schools, the lack of adequate ICT in the classroom, or failure to properly integrate ICT into the curriculum impacts how the student can utilize a computer at home, thus further impeding successful participation in learning opportunities.