Their world, our world—bridging the divide

Students worldwide are gaining access to powerful computing devices and services. They are learning from each other how to find and share information, how to carry out useful tasks such as editing images and video, where to find the best entertainment, etc. Classrooms, especially in the UK, are changing to make better access to computer technology for teachers to use in presenting information to students. The term ‘digital divide’ was used to distinguish between students who did and did not have access to information and communication technology (ICT). Now there is an increasing digital divide between the ways students use ICT for themselves, and that which they experience at school. This article considers how that divide may be narrowed by involving students more centrally in their own learning. It is illustrated by material from recent school-based projects including examples of ICT-based activities used to help make mathematics more exciting, relevant and challenging to young learners—and also to develop its cross-curricular use in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.