Going Mobile

A few weeks ago I read a blog post written by a pre-service teacher that said phones & tablets had no place in a classroom. Since then I have heard (and read on twitter) a few more arguments along these same lines. I also read a post saying that teachers should not be giving homework assignments/projects that require students to use the internet. Almost every time these came up, socioeconomics was the main point for the argument. It makes since. If you are reading this blog, you are online, and you know the cost that comes with internet as well as phone service. But is this a valid point? Is there still a digital divide in the United States? If so is the digital divide still “Haves and Have Nots” or is it by age?

Pew Research Center has completed a study on teens and how they use the internet. A colleague sent it to me and I was completely sucked into the data. I took some of what I thought were highlights and threw them into an infographic. As you read over this, ask yourself, is there still an economic digital divide? Are the common arguments against BYOD valid? Lastly, are we seeing a dramatic increase of mobile usage and if so, are we preparing for now or 5 years from now?

(BTW the infographic is interactive so for information, hover over the charts)