透過網際網縮減數位落差：以數位學伴為例

The Use of Internet to Reduce the Digital Divide: Case Study of E-learning Partner

在資訊科技發展迅速，數位環境逐漸普及化的社會中，仍有部分學童或民眾，可能因為教育程度、年齡、性別、族群、地理環境、收入等因素，而缺少使用電腦與網路等資訊科技的機會，以致造成數位落差的現象。在臺灣學術網路（TANet）環境中，頗具意義的應用即是「數位學伴線上課業輔導」，它是運用數位科技進行一對一的遠距線上課業輔導，以增進偏鄉地區國中、小或經濟弱勢學童的「學習」與「陪伴」(簡稱學伴)。在線上課業輔導的過程中，除了可培育大學生在服務學習中成長，重視每個個體的尊嚴與價值外，亦能增進國中、小學童的學科能力，感受成人社會對他們的關懷，並擴展其視野。「數位學伴線上課業輔導」結合網路科技技術與人文關懷，在推動資訊教育過程中，是一項頗具意義的工作。

The rapid advance of information technology has made internet access easier but some children and adults still lack resources to use the computer and internet probably because of educational attainment, age, gender, ethnicity, geographical environment, and family’s income, eventually leading to the end of digital divide. The e-learning partnership and tutoring, serving as the most significant application of TANet, offers a combination of distance education and one-toone individual tuition by adapting digital technology in order to improve learning and increase participation of elementary and junior high school students who live in rural and remote areas or come from low socio-economic background. Online tuition not only allows college students to grow and respect individual life and dignity, but also helps the elementary and junior high school students sharpen intellectual ability, enrich experience in a concern and care society, and broaden horizons. This e-learning partnership and tutoring combining network technology and humanity’s concern therefore has a significant role to play in promoting information and computer education in Taiwan.