Use and Users
The Motor City Public Library is developing this webportal as a tool for Detroit high school students, specifically 10th graders, who have been assigned To Kill a Mockingbird for summer reading.
Detroit is considered the most segregated city in America. The demographic maps of the Detroit area provided by Wired and Business Insider prove the racial disparity and generates studies of the Detroit area children that have a distinctive racial component.
Poor high school graduation rates are a large concern in Detroit and demonstrate a need to supplement school materials while generating interest of high-schoolers with school subjects. The total number of high school students in Detroit who are not graduating on time is disturbing and has a definitive racial component.
While this is going on, there are still a number of students who complete high school and provide exceptions to the poor education statistics in Detroit. Despite the number of teenagers who complete high school, there are still a large number of teens who do not finish in four years or are forced to work throughout high school due to economic necessity. There are also a significant number of students who are not in school and not working. This problem with poor education does begin early though. It can be assumed that even in high school, students are not reading at a level of proficiency expected of someone their age.
Information Seeking Needs and Technology Use in Teens
For the majority of children living in Detroit, their families face tough economic times. The numbers of children living in poverty is rising as well. Despite poverty levels, teens still find access to technology and the internet, primarily through mobile devices with internet access, such as cell phones. Teens in lower socioeconomic classes are highly likely to use cell phones as a primary way to access the internet. While teens in poverty have some amount of access to technology, there are still some teenagers who have no internet access. To those that do have access, there are ways that the Motor City Public Library can increase accessibility to this webportal. For those who do not have access, we encourage these teenagers to use the library resources at their disposal.
Our webportal needs to be accessible easily through cellular devices in order to increase access to the site and give a greater number of students a beneficial learning experience. As students with lower socioeconomic statuses are less likely to have all of the technological tools they need for school, they are at a disadvantage. The Motor City Public Library will use this webportal to increase interest of high schoolers in their school material and help them adapt to an information age by providing resources to develop their digital citizenship.
Text on Use and Users from Alice
Detroit is considered the most segregated city in America. The demographic maps of the Detroit area provided by Wired and Business Insider prove the racial disparity and generates studies of the Detroit area children that have a distinctive racial component.
Poor high school graduation rates are a large concern in Detroit and demonstrate a need to supplement school materials while generating interest of high-schoolers with school subjects. The total number of high school students in Detroit who are not graduating on time is disturbing and has a definitive racial component.
While this is going on, there are still a number of students who complete high school and provide exceptions to the poor education statistics in Detroit. Despite the number of teenagers who complete high school, there are still a large number of teens who do not finish in four years or are forced to work throughout high school due to economic necessity. There are also a significant number of students who are not in school and not working. This problem with poor education does begin early though. It can be assumed that even in high school, students are not reading at a level of proficiency expected of someone their age.
Information Seeking Needs and Technology Use in Teens
For the majority of children living in Detroit, their families face tough economic times. The numbers of children living in poverty is rising as well. Despite poverty levels, teens still find access to technology and the internet, primarily through mobile devices with internet access, such as cell phones. Teens in lower socioeconomic classes are highly likely to use cell phones as a primary way to access the internet. While teens in poverty have some amount of access to technology, there are still some teenagers who have no internet access. To those that do have access, there are ways that the Motor City Public Library can increase accessibility to this webportal. For those who do not have access, we encourage these teenagers to use the library resources at their disposal.
Our webportal needs to be accessible easily through cellular devices in order to increase access to the site and give a greater number of students a beneficial learning experience. As students with lower socioeconomic statuses are less likely to have all of the technological tools they need for school, they are at a disadvantage. The Motor City Public Library will use this webportal to increase interest of high schoolers in their school material and help them adapt to an information age by providing resources to develop their digital citizenship.
Text on Use and Users from Alice
Statistics
Racial Disparity in Detroit
Graduation
Education Scores
Teen Technology Use
Racial Disparity in Detroit
- Business Insider writes, “...Detroit’s inner city is almost exclusively black, except for a small Hispanic corner in the southwest called ‘Mexicantown.’ The suburbs like Grosse Pointe, Dearborn, and Ferndale are heavily white.” (Baird-Remba and Lubin)
- While just under 70% of Detroit’s population of children is non-Hispanic white children, about 17% is non-Hispanic black and 7% is Hispanic or Latino. (Kids Count, "Child Population by Race")
Graduation
- Out of teens aged 16-19, over 10% of Hispanic or Latino residents are not attending high school and have not graduated. (Kids Count, "Teens Aged 16 to 19 Who are Not in School and are Not High School Graduates by Race")
- Poor graduation rates are made more disturbing considering the high rates of non-Hispanic black students, and Hispanic and Latino students who fit into this category. (Kids Count, "High School Students Not Graduating On Time By Race and Ethnicity")
- The high school dropout rate has fluctuated for the past few years, but has been as low as 20% in 2010 and as high as 30% in 2007. (Kids Count, "High School Dropouts")
- About 40% of students graduate in more than four years, and 55-60% of students graduate in the standard four years. (Kids Count, "High School Graduates (On Time)"; Kids Count, "Students Not Graduating on Time")
- Despite this, between 2007 and 2011, about 10% of teens between 16 and 19 are either not in school or graduating. Nearly 20% of these same teens between 2008 and 2011 are not in school, nor working. (Kids Count, "High School Graduates (On Time)"; Kids Count, "Students Not Graduating on Time")
Education Scores
- Unfortunately, the test scores for younger children’s populations do not show a wide proficiency in reading, with only 30-40% of children being proficient in reading at a third grade level. (Kids Count, "MEAP - Students Proficient in Grade 3 Reading")
- For the last five years, statistics show about 30% of kids under 18 live in low-income working families. (Kids Count, "Children in Low-Income Working Families by Age Group")
- The numbers of students eligible for free or reduced lunch has steadily risen over the last five years from 74% to 84%. (Kids Count, "Students Eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch")
- For children aged 6-17, the numbers of children in poverty have risen from 46% to 58% within the last five years, and for all children less than 18, it has risen from 46% to 59%. (Kids Count, "Children in Poverty by Age Group")
Teen Technology Use
- According to a study done by the Pew Research Institute, 95% of teens have internet access, and 93% of teens even have access to a computer at home, whether it is their own or a shared family computer. (Madden et al.)
- The report cautions, “In overall internet use, youth ages 12-17 who are living in lower-income and lower-education households are still somewhat less likely to use the internet in any capacity — mobile or wired.” (Madden et al.)
- About three in four teens use mobile devices like tablets and cell phones that provide internet access occasionally. (Madden et al.)
- In a survey of Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers, 97% of them say technology has a huge impact on their ability to access teaching materials. (Purcell et al.)
Sources
Baird-Remba, Rebecca and Gus Lubin, images by Eric Fischer. "21 Maps of Highly Segregated Cities in America." Business Insider. 25 April, 2013, <http://www.businessinsider.com/most-segregated-cities-census-maps-2013-4?op=1#ixzz2jj6nJYpC>
Bradford, Harry. "America's 10 Most Segregated Cities." Huffington Post. 7 June, 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/07/americas-10-most-segregated-cities_n_845092.html#s261062&title=1_Detroit_Michigan>
"Child Population by Race." Kids Count. July 2013. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/103-child-population-by-race?loc=24&loct=2#detailed/2/24/false/868,867,133,38,35/66,67,68,69,70,71,12,72/423,424>
"Children in Low-Income Working Families by Age Group." Kids Count. November 2012. Data from Population Reference Bureau. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5048-children-in-low-income-working-families-by-age-group?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/867,133,38,35/34,35,36/11455,11456>
"Children in Poverty by Age Group." Kids Count. September 2013. Data from American Community Survey. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5650-children-in-poverty-by-age-group?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/868,867,133,38,35/17,18,36/12263,12264>
"High School Students Not Graduating on Time by Race and Ethnicity." Kids Count. June 2013. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/7755-high-school-students-not-graduating-on-time-by-race-and-ethnicity?loc=1&loct=2#detailed/2/24/false/809,712,517,516,515/141,725,4041,1,12,13/14945>
"High School Dropouts." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5877-high-school-dropouts?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/867,133,38,35,18/any/12490,13115>
"High School Graduates (On Time)." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/6541-high-school-graduates-on-time?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/867,133,38,35,18/any/13524,13525>
"MEAP - Students Proficiency in Grade 3 Reading." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/7436-meap--students-proficient-in-grade-3-reading?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/868,867,133,38,35/any/14518,14519>
Madden, Mary, Amanda Lenhart, Maeve Duggan, Sandra Cortesi, and Urs Gasser. "Teens and Technology 2013." Pew Research Center. 13 March, 2013. <http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teens-and-Tech.aspx>
"Median Family (with Child) Income." Kids Count. October 2013. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/65-median-family-with-child-income?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/868,867,133,38,35/any/365>
Purcell, Kristen, Alan Heaps, Judy Buchanan, and Linda Friedrich. "How Teachers are Using Technology at Home and in their Classrooms." Pew Research Center. 28 February, 2013. <http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teachers-and-technology/Summary-of-Findings.aspx>
"Students Eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/1672-students-eligible-for-free-or-reduced-priced-lunch?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/868,867,133,38,35/any/3551,13159>
"Students Not Graduating On Time." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/7235-students-not-graduating-on-time?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/867,133,38,35,18/any/14273,14274>
"Teens Ages 16 to 19 Who are Not in School and Are Not High School Graduates By Race." Kids Count. November 2012. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/74-teens-ages-16-to-19-who-are-not-in-school-and-are-not-high-school-graduates-by-race?loc=1&loct=2#detailed/2/24/false/867,133,38,35,18/1,9,10,11,12,13/383,382>
Vanhemert, Kyle. "The Best Map Ever Made of America's Racial Segregation." Wired. 26 August, 2013, <http://www.wired.com/design/2013/08/how-segregated-is-your-city-this-eye-opening-map-shows-you/>
Baird-Remba, Rebecca and Gus Lubin, images by Eric Fischer. "21 Maps of Highly Segregated Cities in America." Business Insider. 25 April, 2013, <http://www.businessinsider.com/most-segregated-cities-census-maps-2013-4?op=1#ixzz2jj6nJYpC>
Bradford, Harry. "America's 10 Most Segregated Cities." Huffington Post. 7 June, 2011. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/07/americas-10-most-segregated-cities_n_845092.html#s261062&title=1_Detroit_Michigan>
"Child Population by Race." Kids Count. July 2013. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/103-child-population-by-race?loc=24&loct=2#detailed/2/24/false/868,867,133,38,35/66,67,68,69,70,71,12,72/423,424>
"Children in Low-Income Working Families by Age Group." Kids Count. November 2012. Data from Population Reference Bureau. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5048-children-in-low-income-working-families-by-age-group?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/867,133,38,35/34,35,36/11455,11456>
"Children in Poverty by Age Group." Kids Count. September 2013. Data from American Community Survey. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5650-children-in-poverty-by-age-group?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/868,867,133,38,35/17,18,36/12263,12264>
"High School Students Not Graduating on Time by Race and Ethnicity." Kids Count. June 2013. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/7755-high-school-students-not-graduating-on-time-by-race-and-ethnicity?loc=1&loct=2#detailed/2/24/false/809,712,517,516,515/141,725,4041,1,12,13/14945>
"High School Dropouts." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5877-high-school-dropouts?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/867,133,38,35,18/any/12490,13115>
"High School Graduates (On Time)." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/6541-high-school-graduates-on-time?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/867,133,38,35,18/any/13524,13525>
"MEAP - Students Proficiency in Grade 3 Reading." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/7436-meap--students-proficient-in-grade-3-reading?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/868,867,133,38,35/any/14518,14519>
Madden, Mary, Amanda Lenhart, Maeve Duggan, Sandra Cortesi, and Urs Gasser. "Teens and Technology 2013." Pew Research Center. 13 March, 2013. <http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teens-and-Tech.aspx>
"Median Family (with Child) Income." Kids Count. October 2013. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/65-median-family-with-child-income?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/868,867,133,38,35/any/365>
Purcell, Kristen, Alan Heaps, Judy Buchanan, and Linda Friedrich. "How Teachers are Using Technology at Home and in their Classrooms." Pew Research Center. 28 February, 2013. <http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teachers-and-technology/Summary-of-Findings.aspx>
"Students Eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/1672-students-eligible-for-free-or-reduced-priced-lunch?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/868,867,133,38,35/any/3551,13159>
"Students Not Graduating On Time." Kids Count. Data from Center for Educational Performance Information. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/7235-students-not-graduating-on-time?loc=24&loct=3#detailed/3/58/false/867,133,38,35,18/any/14273,14274>
"Teens Ages 16 to 19 Who are Not in School and Are Not High School Graduates By Race." Kids Count. November 2012. <http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/74-teens-ages-16-to-19-who-are-not-in-school-and-are-not-high-school-graduates-by-race?loc=1&loct=2#detailed/2/24/false/867,133,38,35,18/1,9,10,11,12,13/383,382>
Vanhemert, Kyle. "The Best Map Ever Made of America's Racial Segregation." Wired. 26 August, 2013, <http://www.wired.com/design/2013/08/how-segregated-is-your-city-this-eye-opening-map-shows-you/>