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differences in intangible outputs among situation in India and around the world.
students. The gap influences digital
inclusion in terms of access, usage, Managing the Digital Divide towards
motivation, and skills. Inclusion

According to Norris (2003), the digital The digital divide entails differences
divide stands for every discrepancy in access based on socioeconomic
within the online community. He divisions (Van Deursen & Van Dijk,
distinguishes digital divide in three 2014). Inequalities in the availability
ways: First, "global divide," referring to of technology and internet access
the divergence between the developed are due to issues of socio-economic
and the developing countries in the use background. Most studies on the digital
of the internet; second, "social divide," divide are based on basic demographic
the division between the information- and socioeconomic predictors of access
rich and the poor in every nation; third, such as gender, age, education, income,
"democratic divide," a gap that exists and employment status (DiMaggio et al.,
between those who engage in social life 2004). When individuals gained access

through on-line and those who do not. to the technological infrastructure,
He argues that socio-economic factors their lack of skills and usage habits
control on-line technology. were noticed for the cause of digital
exclusion. The digital divide approach
Seong-jae (2010) identifies the digital
divide as disadvantages of those who based on inequalities in internet access
are unable to make use of technologies has evolved into a divide that includes
in their day to day life. The less privileged variation in skills to use the internet
groups tend to use ICT for entertainment (Fuchs, 2009; Selwyn, 2004). The gaps
purposes whereas the educated in student’s capacity for accomplishing
employ for learning effectively. Jenkins learning outcomes in turn influences
(2009) termed the 'participation gap' to digital inclusion. Several studies have
describe basic inequalities and lack of demonstrated that once access to
opportunities for participation in access technology is equal, the differences
to technologies. Besides, the digital in how effectively it is used relate to
divide is viewed as educational and economic, cultural, and social variables
social inequity among the oppressed (Jara et al., 2015). Institutions should
and less privileged of the society. Clark manage future literacy for the global
and Gorski (2002) mentioned that knowledge society by teaching digital
educationally oppressed are one of the literacy, knowledge assessment,
dimensions of the digital divide. The and skills of digital communication
digital divide refers to both the gap of & cooperation. Digital learning
access to technology and learner usage opportunities as well as competencies
of technology. This creates a gap in and skills related to problem-solving,
pedagogical practices. By which, the communication, and critical thinking
students are excluded by the curriculum, are the magnitudes of digital equity and
pedagogy, assessment, and other facets inclusion.
of formal schooling. This is an alarming As more computers and internet access

284 Indian Journal of Educational Technology
Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2021