I have recently been thinking about the "knowledge divide" vs. the "digital divide" and how access to information varies across the globe. In particular, I have been questioning how this relates to the capacity to transform information into knowledge. There are no simple answers to these questions; but it is clear that education, both formal and informal, is a key component to addressing the knowledge divide. I believe that there is not necessarily a direct correlation between digital access and knowledge access, as the latter is dependent on how one utilizes their digital access. Below are a few unique takes on the issue of the knowledge, information and digital divides that I felt were particularly compelling.
This is an interesting article about the role of the private sector regulations and information sharing in Africa from the Economist:
Google in Africa
My favorite quote from this article:
"Take maps. Before Google, ordinary Africans struggled to find maps.
Military and civilian mapping offices hoarded rolls of colonial-era
relics and sold them at inflated prices. By contrast, Google encourages
African developers to layer maps with ever more data. In Kenya 31,000
primary schools and 6,900 secondary schools are marked on Google maps.
Satellite views even let users see if the schools have built promised
new classrooms or water points. Similar initiatives let voters verify
local voting figures at election time. Satellite views of traffic jams
have also shamed some African cabinets into spending more on city
infrastructure." - Article Title: It's A Hit; Printed In: The Economist on May 12, 2012.
What do you think about knowledge infrastructure vs. physical infrastructure? What is necessary to translate this into healthy economic and social development?
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This is a 2005 UNESCO report on the knowledge divide, which highlights the differences between information societies and knowledge societies:
Towards Knowledge Societies
Do you believe we live in a knowledge- or information- centric society? What about at your work place? With your friends and family? For me, my answer differs for each social network I engage with.
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This is a radio show from the program "To the Best of Our Knowledge", which highlights a non-formal education program in Mexico called Fundacion Proacceso. This program is attempting to address the digital divide while also creating the capacity to utilize the information gained through digital access:
Aleph Molinari on the Knowledge Divide
Should this model be evaluated for impact and potentially implemented in other locations? Are you aware of evaluations showing the impact of similar programs? In my mind, such an impact evaluation would need to look at increased knowledge about the use of technology, sustained access to technology and information, increased civic engagement, increased economic opportunity, and increased access to information about the world. That would be no small task for an evaluator!
