ABOUT ME

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A BIT OF A GEEK.

That passion found a cause in 1995, the first time I heard the term the Digital Divide, the gap between the technology haves and have-nots, in a graduate course. The Digital Divide is a moving target. Back then, it was defined as the access to multimedia computers and Internet connectivity. Today, it includes access to resources as well as whether or not you are a tech producer or tech consumer. After the course, I set out on a mission to 'Bridge the Digital Divide One Byte at a Time.' The greatest revelation was that not all students loved technology in the ways that I'd assumed. Most children loved the novelty and the games but they did not embrace many applications or activities to the degree that I'd expected. Though they may have initially been interested in STEM fields, it waned over time. Many students turn away from STEM-based on fear, their perception of ‘geeks’, believing they have nothing to contribute. By looking at HOW students used technology I hope to help others find ways to use that information to make STEM more appealing. If you know what you have to offer, you can be a more powerful member of the technology team!