The digital divide in schools : an examination of the patterns of adoption and usage of ICT in Irish schools during a national ICT initiative, 1998-2000

Abstract

Many countries, including Ireland, have invested substantial sums in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in schools in recent years. While such investments may aim to ensure that all learners benefit equally from ICT, there have been suggestions that variations in within-school use of ICT may mirror the existing inequalities in ICT in society. In-school use of ICT may therefore serve to reinforce rather than reduce the digital divide. This study is an examination of the patterns of adoption and usage of ICT in Irish schools in the period 1998 to 2000, during a national initiative aimed at developing the use of ICT in schools. The study is based on large-scale surveys of schools, conducted at the beginning and end of the period under study. All of the schools involved in the national initiative were surveyed, and high response rates were achieved. In addition a more detailed examination, based on interviews and school- wide teacher surveys, was conducted in a small sample of schools.