The Classroom as an Extension of Our Society: Empowering Students through Technology in Service Learning to Bridge the Global Digital Divide

AbstractThe rapid development of our society created a number of social issues including the global digital divide which can be encountered on international, national and local levels. My papers discusses the role and importance of engaging students in discussing, understanding and contributing to the bridging of this gap using their information technology skills in a service learning experience to help people who don’t have access to technology or the necessary computer skills to succeed in our society. Volunteering for 15hours in centers like Julie's Family Planning, ABCD Parker Hill neighborhood center, Notre Dame Education Center, students experience firsthand the impact of the lack of technology skills and access to technology on various groups of people, and get a chance to help these people.Students keep an online blog to record and reflect on the outcome, meaning and importance of their service learning activities, such as: teaching computer classes, designing curriculum, tutoring in computer skills, database entries and cleanup in offices computer upgrades. They share in their blogs the meaning and importance of engaging in service learning to solve social problems using their own technology education. This experience expands our classroom to engage and empower students to become active and responsible members of our society, while using their formal information technology education in a practical way