ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by looking at popular notions of a digital divide and the most current data on hardware and Internet access and use at home and in school. It discusses how the idea of a digital divide has evolved to conceptions of social inclusion, identify tensions and conflicting viewpoints surrounding the notion of a digital divide, and outline related current and emerging theories. Implications for educational practice are organized around a brief outline of related national policy initiatives and an exploration of practical implementation issues such as workability, complexity, and performativity. The chapter deals with some recommendations for education researchers and thoughts on the future of the digital divide. Social inclusion refers to the extent that individuals, families, and communities are able to fully participate in society and control their own destinies, taking into account a variety of factors related to economic resources, employment, health, education, housing, recreation, culture, and civic engagement.
