Moving Toward Closing the Digital Divide: Central American Immigrants

1
Moving Toward Closing the Digital Divide
Central American Immigrants Perspective on
Computer and Internet Use

• Davina Pruitt-Mentle
• Internet Research 2.0
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• October 12, 2001

2
Outline

• Introduction
• Goals
• Description of Hyattsville/Langley Park
• Design
• Theoretical Frameworks
• Interviews
• Conclusions

3
Questions

• Central Questions
• How can the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of
  young Central American immigrants towards the use
  of technology be described and interpreted

4
Questions

• What part does technology play in the lives of
  these individuals and how does technology relate
  to their career/educational goals?
• What are the conditioning factors influencing the
  use of technology for Central American immigrants
  who are successful in using or applying
  technology?
• What are the conditioning factors influencing the
  beliefs or perceptions about the value of
  technology for Central American immigrants who
  are successful in using or applying technology?
• What educational setting is perceived as the best
  way to advance their technology related skills?

5
Why Is It Important?

• 40 million Hispanics in US by 2010
• Largest minority
• 8000 have immigrated from El Salvador since 1992
  to DC/MD Metro Area
• 4700 reside in the Hyattsville area
• Second largest group of Salvadorians
• Third largest community of Central Americans
• Nationwide
• 1 in 2 Hispanics have access to computer at
  school
• 1 in 8 have access at home
• Hispanic Home Access - 12 Grades 1-8, 14 in
  grades 9-12
• White Home Access 40 Grades 1-8, 46 grades
  9-12

6
Research Literature Review

• Cultural Background
• US Census Data
• Historical Background
• Gender Issues
• Educational Technology Background

7
Original Research Studies

• Ethnography students (insider)
• Ethnography teachers (insider)
• Oral histories
• Women immigrants (2)
• Langley Park Community
• Classroom Technology Studies
• Study Implementation Projects Effectiveness
  (culturally diverse multimedia)

8
Questionnaire
Dissertation Research
Observations Active Participant Privileged
Observer Limited Observer
Historical/political/economic Oral History Board
of Ed. Records Newspapers Census Data-immigration
Ongoing Research
Classroom Technology Studies
Qualitative Ethnographic
Study Implementation Projects Effectiveness
National Survey of Time Use
Quantitative
Records, standardized tests state/school
Interviews in school formal informal Out of
school formal informal
Demographic census data ex. income, family size
Measuring attitude interpersonal
culture thematic apperception tool, problem
situation test, sentence completion test attitude
toward technology,-computer attitude scale
9
Theoretical Framework

• Historical-structural theory
• Social-cultural theory
• Gender-feminist theory
• Assimilation theory

10
Themes

• Social Aspects
• Practice Time
• Language
• Maintain Culture
• Do Better

11
Social Aspects

• Social life and after school play important in
  home country
• Limited social time in US
• Like to work with partner or in groups

12
Quotes about Socializing

• In our country, we come home, do homework, and
  then go outside and play with all the other
  people who live close. Everyone knows everyone.
• Here you cant go outside. Mom thinks its unsafe
  and no one is around.

13
Quotes about Socializing

• Like working with group - or someone else.
• What if they dont know about computers either?
  Doesnt matter, it helps just having a second
  person.
• I like to talk and work. We get our work done,
  but like talking.

14
Practice Time

• After School
• Dont have time
• Work
• Take Care of Siblings
• Not Allowed
• No Help
• Home Computer Too Slow
• Home Computer Looks Different
• In School
• Not enough time in class
• Classes too structured
• Dont like to use social time

15
Quotes about practice

• Dont have no computer.
• I Had internet, then dad got mad because they
  started charging a lot.
• Cant understand. Looks different than at
  school. This menu bar is not the same at
  home.
• I cant go to friends to work on computers
  after school. I take care of my brother.

16
Quotes about practice

• My uncle got it for us. But he doesnt know it
  either.
• Mom and dad cant understand the book. Theyre
  just learning English, well they know, but not a
  lot of those computer terms words.

17
Language

• Dont like to speak in class (ask questions)
• Like to work in groups or with a partner
• Like to use spell check

18
Quotations about Language

• Most dont like to ask questions because people
  laugh. We feel like we are different.
• One time I said the bad word for beach - you
  know, the bad word bitch.

19
Quotations about Language

• Teachers are the worst. They always ask you to
  repeat. What? Can you say it again? I cant
  understand? Makes you feel bad.
• You can just sit there and they teachers will
  come around and see you not doing anything or are
  far behind and they will squat down to help you.

20
Maintain Culture

• Switch back and forth in class
• Spanish English
• Portuguese English
• Maintain language at home and accent
• My Country
• Back in my country.
• In my country we
• Reminiscing

21
Do Better

• Seniors ancianos
• Usted - a sign of respect and reverence for
  their experience and wisdom

22
Quotes about Doing Better

• My mom always says, Diane, I want you to do
  something more than just wash other peoples
  bathrooms like me. And to do this, you must have
  a good education.
• They sacrificed a lot for us.
• Want me to finish school unlike parents
• Want me to go to college unlike parents, first
  in the family

23
Quotes about Succeeding

• My father saw no way to get anywhere. Wanted to
  have money to buy things for me. So he left to
  come here to do better, when I was still in moms
  belly.

24
Conclusions

• Need time in school on computers
• Limited time after school (work/day care)
• Teachers need to be open to socialization
• Flexible makeup
• Group Work
• Use computer to breakdown language barrier
• Translation software for home and website
• Work at your own pace
• Risk Taking/One on One/Group Dialogue
• Technology can be path to success - but need more
  access
• At school
• At home
• Educate students and parents on economic benefits
  of education and technology