A Portal to Learning
Educational attainment is a factor that accounts for computer and Internet use. The higher a person's level of education, the more likely he or she will use a computer or the Internet. People age 25 and above with education beyond college were the most likely to be both computer and Internet users and those with Bachelor's degrees trailed close behind. The good news is that Internet use did grow rapidly among those with lower levels of educational attainment. Internet use among those with only a high school diploma grew at an annual rate of 30 percent from December 1998 to September 2001, while Internet use for adults with a Bachelor's degree and adults with beyond a Bachelor's degree grew at only annual rates of 13 and 9 percent, respectively, over the same period of time.
Distant Connections
Rural household use is catching up to the rest of the nation. From 1998 to 2001, Internet use among people living in rural households grew about by 24% annually.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Infrastructure Administration, A Nation Online: How Americans Are Expanding Their Use Of The Internet, February, 2002, based on findings from the September 2001 U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.
A Digital Media Forum survey found that 71% of respondents believe that the Internet could enhance their education level, 85% believe it helps their children learn, and 95% said that the Internet was vital for work skills. The Internet has the power to serve as a great equalizer, as long as all populations have the access and ability to use it.
