Student Practices on Internet in Engineering Colleges in the District Solan, Himachal Pradesh (India)

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. P. Saini ◽  
Jasbir Singh
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Himachal Pradesh ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Real Condition ◽  
Digital Competencies ◽  
Internet Literacy

An essential element of Internet literacy for college students is the ability to locate, select, evaluate, synthesize, and cite sources in their study. This study began with the assumption that there are stumpy Internet competency and a big digital divide among the students in the engineering colleges in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh, (India). A survey was conducted to know the student practices on Internet. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to 480 students. After filling up, a total of 424 questionnaires with a response rate of 87.2% were received. The objective of this study was to identify the preferred criteria of using the Internet in the engineering colleges. This paper examines the digital competencies of the students and discusses on different aspects of Internet usage. However, the study limits only a few colleges, yet it represents an overview of the real condition and impact in broader prospects.

Second Order Divide in Internet Usage in Developing Countries

2018 ◽  
pp. 38-51
Author(s):  
Aparna Purushothaman ◽  
Lone Dirckinck Holmfeld ◽  
Moly Kuruvilla
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Internet Literacy

Internet literacy is crucial to become information literate and for lifelong learning for today's citizens. However, there is an identified gendered digital divide in Internet usage, as the major proportion of unconnected citizens, especially in the developing economies in asian countries are women. The problems of the gender digital divide are not just limited to connectivity and infrastructural issues, literacy and the cost of access, which are often discussed in the literature. The authors identify some of the second order factors that are often overlooked and arise out of cognitive, psychological and social factors leading to the digital divide. The paper also discusses possible measures that could be taken up to address the second order gender digital divide.

Helping Close the Digital Divide for Financially Disadvantaged Seniors

2006 ◽  
pp. 165-190
Author(s):  
Al P. Mizell
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Computer System ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
The Internet ◽  
The World ◽  
Nova Southeastern University ◽  
Individual Participant ◽  
The Individual

The Internet has become an essential element of all society today. Those who can access the World Wide Web have become active participants in the Information Age. Unfortunately, many individuals throughout the world do not have ready access to the needed technology. Furthermore, they do not have the required knowledge and skills to use the technology and cannot participate actively. As a result, this has created a world of information haves and have-nots. In this chapter, after examining the concept of the digital divide, data is presented that shows that those with low incomes and those who are older have little access to technology and the use of computers. Low-income seniors are especially limited in their opportunities to own a computer, and they seldom have the skills needed to use one for e-mail, search the Internet, and so forth, even if they visit a public library where they could use a computer without any cost. Various approaches being used to help seniors learn how to use computers are described, andthen the chapter focuses on two projects that have proved to be successful in this effort. SeniorNet is a national organization that helps establish learning centers around the country. The approach used at one such center, located at Nova Southeastern University in South Florida, requires seniors to pay for their courses. A second project is known as SeniorComp and is supported by private foundation funds. Ten low-income senior citizens are selected for each group of seniors in this project. They are given a complete Dell computer system, and their tuition is paid to take four of the SeniorNet courses. At the end of the fourth course, ownership of the computer system is turned over to the individual participant. To date, the completion rate has been 100%. The approaches used can serve as models for others to modify and use in their own communities. By adopting a similar approach, the impact of the digital divide can be significantly reduced for those low-income seniors that participate in the project. In this way, this portion of the marginal community can be empowered.

Helping Close the Digital Divide for Financially Disadvantaged Seniors

2008 ◽  
pp. 2396-2402
Author(s):  
Al P. Mizell
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Computer System ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
The Internet ◽  
The World ◽  
Nova Southeastern University ◽  
Individual Participant ◽  
The Individual

The Internet has become an essential element of all society today. Those who can access the World Wide Web have become active participants in the Information Age. Unfortunately, many individuals throughout the world do not have ready access to the needed technology. Furthermore, they do not have the required knowledge and skills to use the technology and cannot participate actively. As a result, this has created a world of information haves and have-nots. In this chapter, after examining the concept of the digital divide, data is presented that shows that those with low incomes and those who are older have little access to technology and the use of computers. Low-income seniors are especially limited in their opportunities to own a computer, and they seldom have the skills needed to use one for e-mail, search the Internet, and so forth, even if they visit a public library where they could use a computer without any cost. Various approaches being used to help seniors learn how to use computers are described, andthen the chapter focuses on two projects that have proved to be successful in this effort. SeniorNet is a national organization that helps establish learning centers around the country. The approach used at one such center, located at Nova Southeastern University in South Florida, requires seniors to pay for their courses. A second project is known as SeniorComp and is supported by private foundation funds. Ten low-income senior citizens are selected for each group of seniors in this project. They are given a complete Dell computer system, and their tuition is paid to take four of the SeniorNet courses. At the end of the fourth course, ownership of the computer system is turned over to the individual participant. To date, the completion rate has been 100%. The approaches used can serve as models for others to modify and use in their own communities. By adopting a similar approach, the impact of the digital divide can be significantly reduced for those low-income seniors that participate in the project. In this way, this portion of the marginal community can be empowered.

Applying Blooms Digital Taxonomy to Address Creativity and Second Order Digital Divide in Internet Skills

2016 ◽  
pp. 450-470
Author(s):  
Aparna Purushothaman
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Women Students ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Internet Skills ◽  
Learning Domains ◽  
Conceptual Skills ◽  
Internet Literacy

Internet technologies play a significant role to enhance creativity of the students in learning environments. Internet literacy is vital to effectively use the Internet tools to enhance creative learning environments. In the developing countries Internet literacy is still an unfulfilled dream for students coming from underprivileged backgrounds thus bringing a digital divide in skills. The chapter draws upon an empirical study done in India on how an intervention comprised of Internet training designed on Bloom's Digital Taxonomy and action research workshops based on the learning domains of the digital taxonomy was an effective approach for empowering women students through learning to use the Internet. The chapter puts forward the argument that an intervention for learning to use the Internet can be effective where focus is on the reflective and conceptual skills in using the Internet than focusing too much on the content that is dynamic.

The empowerment of singleton daughters: exploring the gender digital divide among Chinese college students

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Puxin Zhang ◽  
Lian Wang ◽  
Chun Liu
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
One Child Policy ◽  
Child Policy ◽  
The Impact

PurposeExisting researches find that a gender difference exists in terms of Internet usage. In China, the singleton daughters resulting from China's one-child policy enjoy unprecedented parental support. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether singleton daughters can, to some extent, break through the predicament of the digital divide.Design/methodology/approachThe study collected data from a sample of 865 college students and obtained 811 valid questionnaires. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is used to identify clusters of Internet usage from the perspective of statistical associations in various daily online activities. Two-way ANOVA and mean-comparison tests are used to analyze how singleton and non-singleton students use the Internet differently.FindingsThis study finds that singleton female students showed no significant differences from male students in aspirational activities of informational, educational use and social media use, which means that singleton female students have caught up with male students in these activities. However, female college students from multi-child families were still found to be disadvantaged in those activities.Originality/valueThere is a lack of consensus on the classification of Internet activities. We used EFA to cluster the varieties of Internet activities into three types: utilitarian use, exploratory use and aspirational use. The three identified types of Internet usage require different degrees of user initiative. We argue that initiative provides a useful lens through which to classify Internet usage. In addition, this study is among the few studies to investigate the impact of the one-child policy on the gender digital divide.

Smartphone use and internet literacy of senior citizens

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Hong ◽  
S. Trimi ◽  
D. W. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
Internet Literacy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of smartphone use on the internet literacy and use by senior citizens. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical study. Findings – The results indicate that the use of smartphones does significantly impact the internet literacy and use of older individuals. Educational background and the duration of smartphone use enhance the ability of seniors to use the internet. Research limitations/implications – A similar study can be conducted in other different countries and see the effect (if any) of national cultures and the type/purpose of usage of the internet; an expansion of this research, with a larger sample size, and more variables would shed greater insight on this important topic. Practical implications – Study provide suggestions to governments, in cooperation with the private sectors, on how to diminish the digital divide for senior citizens not only to improve their well-being, but also because seniors are an important resource that contributes to society financially and intellectually. Social implications – Technology is an important factor that can be used to not only alleviate some of the burden and improve the quality of life of senior citizens, but it can also help increase seniors’ contributions to the society. Originality/value – This study contributes in the digital divide research: (digital divide) for senior citizens, contributing factors, and the importance of decreasing it.

Digital divide in the major regions of the world and the possibility of convergence

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-85
Author(s):  
Henry Egbezien Inegbedion
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
The Other ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nature of the inequalities in the usage of the internet and inequalities in the growth rate in the usage of the internet, and thus ascertain the possibility of convergence of the digital divide between the major regions of the world. Design/methodology/approach The design was a longitudinal study of the usage of internet and growth rate in the usage of the internet in the different regions of the world for the period 2009–2019. The quantitative research method was used. Simple percentages and F-test were used in data analysis. Findings The usage of internet in Asia and Europe is higher than all the other regions in the world but there is no significant difference in usage between the other regions. The results further showed that some of the digitally disadvantaged regions had higher growth rates in the usage of the internet and these digitally disadvantage states are not disadvantaged in access to smartphones and the emerging 5G technology, thus suggesting the possibility of imminent convergence in access to the internet given the increasing usage of smartphones for the internet subscription. Research limitations/implications The focus on internet usage in the major regions of the world without recourse to the variability of the usage and growth rate of internet usage within the regions. The dearth of the empirical literature on quantitative research on the research problem was another constraint. Finally, restriction in available statistics on digital divide constrained the use of 2009–2019 as the periodic scope of the study. Practical implications Inclusion of ICT in the school curricula of the component states to acquaint them with information and communication technology (ICT) usage at an early stage, as well as provision of the enabling environment for business to thrive and through a national culture that will encourage businesses to be vibrant, and thus lay a foundation for future convergence. Social implications Enhancement in employment opportunities through the increased investment in the ICT facilities and the subsequent reduction in social vices. Originality/value Use of secondary data through a longitudinal design to categorically indicate the differences between the different regions of the world in terms of internet usage, as well as the empirical determination of the discrepancies between the growth rates in the access to internet and usage of internet by different regions of the world, especially as regard some of the digitally disadvantaged regions having higher growth rates in the usage of the internet than the perceived digitally advantaged regions.

scholarly journals Men's Perception of Women Regarding the Internet Usage in the Khyber Agency Pakistan: An Exploratory Study

2020 ◽  
Vol V (I) ◽  
pp. 47-58
Author(s):  
Arif Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Access To Education ◽  
Tribal Society ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Method Approach

Khyber agency is located near the border of Afghanistan, due to continuous war in Afghanistan, patriarchal society and domination of males, the women of Khyber agency have no access to education, basic human rights and internet technologies. This paper investigated the gender discrimination in the use of the internet in the Khyber agency of Pakistan, the war-torn area adjacent to Afghanistan. A mixed method approach visa-vis in-depth interviews and purposive survey of the respondents was used to collect data. The in-depth interviews were analyzed using NVivo and SPSS was employed to analyze survey data. The findings indicate that there is a digital divide that promotes gender discrimination in the Khyber agency regarding the internet usage. The patriarchal nature of the tribal society deprives women from internet contributing to the gender discrimination. Additionally, the male dominance of the rural tribal society is associated with stereotypical discourses of women.

scholarly journals Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Appalachia: Internet Usage in the Mountains

10.28945/2708 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob J. Podber
Keyword(s):  
Oral History ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Mining Communities ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
The World ◽  
Rural Appalachia ◽  
Oral History Interviews

This project looks at Internet usage within the Melungeon community of Appalachia. Although much has been written on the coal mining communities of Appalachia and on ethnicity within the region, there has been little written on electronic media usage by Appalachian communities, most notably the Melun-geons. The Melungeons are a group who settled in the Appalachian Mountains as early as 1492, of apparent Mediterranean descent. Considered by some to be tri-racial isolates, to a certain extent, Melungeons have been culturally constructed, and largely self-identified. According to the founder of a popular Melungeon Web site, the Internet has proven an effective tool in uncovering some of the mysteries and folklore surrounding the Melungeon community. This Web site receives more than 21,000 hits a month from Melungeons or others interested in the group. The Melungeon community, triggered by recent books, films, and video documentaries, has begun to use the Internet to trace their genealogy. Through the use of oral history interviews, this study examines how Melungeons in Appalachia use the Internet to connect to others within their community and to the world at large.

scholarly journals Digital Divide Measurement in Lembata Regency Using SIBIS

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 11011
Author(s):  
Cecilia Dai Payon Binti Gabriel ◽  
Djoko Budiyanto Setyohadi ◽  
Suyoto
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Reliability Test ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Validity Test ◽  
The People ◽  
The Government

Along with technological development in Indonesia, digital divide occurs in various regions, which were behind in terms of information on how to use, access and utilize ICT in collecting information from internet. One of the regions is Lembata Regency in East Nusa Tenggara, where digital divide among the people should be measured. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of digital divide among the people of Lembata Regency. To determine the level of digital divide, we used SIBIS GPS (General Population Survey) method, which consisted of several indicators or aspect, i.e. internet usage behavior, internet utilization, and e-government. We also performed two tests, i.e. validity test and reliability test to obtain value of index of digital divide measurement among the people of Lembata Regency. The results of validity test which is processed using SPSS program are categorized valid for each variable indicator and the reliability test results show reliable status. According to the test results on digital discrepancy in Lembata people, the internet usage attitude indicator is categorized low which is 63.1%, the internet usage function indicator is categorized low which is 64%, and the digital discrepancy of e-government indicator is categorized medium which is 40.4%. Therefore, the result of this study because consideration for the government of Lembata Regency in improving ICT services in e-government and in distributing ICT access and ability equally to the people.

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