The Inequities of the Digital Divide: Is E-Learning a Solution?

Abstract

This article addresses the continuing digital divide in public education, one that defines itself largely along geographic, socioeconomic, and cultural lines. The article refutes the idea that the digital divide is dwindling due to increasing access to technology within the United States, instead focusing on digital literacy and cultural barriers as perpetuating the divide, causing economic, democratic, and social ramifications for those affected. Finally, e-learning is proposed as a potential solution to narrow the divide based on the ability to receive effective instruction without geographic restraints.