JLawrenceCarterDigital Divide

  A survey of Oklahoma school districts in the early stages of the pandemic found that 167,000 out of 700,000 students (24%) lacked an internet connection at home (BROADBAND ACCESS across OKLAHOMA during COVID-19, n.d.). Oklahoma’s broadband access was not good before the Covid-19 pandemic came about. Oklahoma ranked 47 of 50 as far as connectivity and speed all the way back in 2018. There has been a turnaround in the state with OK Energy Today reporting as recently as December that has moved up 43 positions nationally. 58,000 locations were removed from the unserved list (Oklahoma Gets High Ranking for Expanded Rural Broadband Service - Oklahoma Energy Today, 2024). Per their website they offer WiFi in the parking lots with no no necessity of a password from 8 A.M. to 9 P.M. daily. No information is available about any devices provided for at home use (tablets, laptops, etc), which may leave the responsibility on the parents (according to the handbook). Sallisaw High School in ...

  Greetings and Salutations, My name is J. Lawrence Carter. I am an alumni of Southeastern Oklahoma State University having completed my coursework for my undergraduate in 2018 earning my Bachelor’s of Arts in Studio Art. My field of study was in classical techniques producing physical and graphic materials by the way of drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and printmaking. I am a Xennial affectionately known as part of the Oregon Trail Generation, those of us in a sub generation that straddled both Generation X and Generation Y whom existed in both the analog and digital ages. Occupationally I have worked in many fields providing both service and training to employees. My current educational journey has brought me back to SE with the ultimate goal of obtaining my Masters of Education so that I might take on the noble path of educating the minds of the future.  The first calling in my life that dominated every waking moment in my youth was art, and comic books were my ...