Sitting in class, listening to the statistics on the digital divide, it’s hard not to believe that technology might be the key to ending poverty. Now before I come off like the Canadian socialist that I am, I should probably add that I don’t actually believe that we can eliminate poverty by putting computers in schools. I do however believe that media literacy education might be the key to reducing the performance gap between schools… If we do it right.

It’s almost common knowledge that the internet is the largest and most comprehensive resource that the human race has ever seen. With an internet connection, you can talk to people from around the world, look up the answer to any question, and engage in social networking. That having been said, the rich have an unprecedented advantage in media literacy. It’s been consistently shown that the wealthy have greater access to technology as well as a better understand of how it can work to their advantage. Inversely, the poor don’t have the same access to information. More than anything, this inequity just furthers the cycle of poverty.

By educating all students in media literacy, you bring up the average. By educating students on how to properly use media, you don’t just teach students how to turn on a computer – you teach them how to search for jobs, use websites like Khan Academy and Wolfram Alpha, and use resources like Google and Google Scholar. A digital education is important because it equips students with tools that will help them far beyond the classroom. Having a working understanding of the internet will help kids across the country grapple with social and political issues as well as educational tasks. What’s important in the 21st century isn’t knowledge but the skills that will allow them to succeed. Never has a class like this been so important.