Managing the Challenges of the Digital Divide Among First Year Students: A Case of UKZN

The integration of technology into the educational system has brought about changes in the style of teaching and learning. Nowadays, institutions are adopting technologies such as computers and the Internet to enhance their teaching and learning activities. Students that grew up using computers and related technologies are often at an advantage with their learning because they would have developed the skills required for using technological resources to enhance their learning. However, students with no prior exposure to any form of technology are often at a disadvantage with their learning. The disparity between students that have been exposed to technology and those that have not, is often referred to as digital divide. The literature shows that the digital divide is a challenge that is impacting on students' academic performance. This study was therefore conducted to understand the challenges faced by the first-year students of University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus, with regards to the digital divide. A quantitative research methodology was employed. The results show that students with little or no exposure to technology prior to joining the university often face challenges with the use of application programs, downloading of informative materials, conducting online tasks and navigating the Internet. The findings also show that access time, ownership of technology and technological skills affects student's computer self-efficacy. Some possible solutions were proposed to the challenges found.