Israel Internet Association

About Us

Project rationale

The Internet has become a technology that provides access to important information that citizens can not access otherwise. In addition, social policy emphasizes the development of computer literacy, which is believed to be necessary to improve income attainment. In Israel, despite the rapid penetration of Internet technology there is a persistent digital divide between Jews and Arabs. While almost 70 percent of the Jewish population has access only 50 percent of the Arab population have access. The gap is not closing and might reproduce and even amplify the existing ethnic disparities in status achievement. Studies have shown that access is not solely dependent on existing economic inequalities, as these inequalities are reflected in the existence of negative attitudes to technology that represent a serious barrier to minorities Internet access and use. The purpose of this project is to implement a program of Internet literacy among the Arab population with the aim of reducing negative attitudes to the Internet, increase their use and therefore decrease future status attainment differences.

Project goals and outcomes

The purpose of the project is to

Increase the awareness of the Arab population of the use of the Internet for accessing and using information that is relevant to everyday life. Including access to governmental, banking and educational information.
To reduce negative attitudes to technology by providing training and education in the wise use of the Internet.
To increase awareness to the Internet as an important source of information, consumption, education and leisure.

The final goal is to increase Arab population access and use of the Internet by increasing the understanding of access to practical information and its various uses for communication and on-line services.

The Pilot in 2008

During April- December 2008 conducted a pilot of the project in two schools in Sachnin and two schools in Nazareth.Parents of school children were invited to an evening talk and access to information was exercised. There is a great interest and enthusiasm of the school principals to be involved in facilitating the program. About 200 parents have participated in the first meetings and were invited to enroll to the workshops. Preliminary data analysis of the pre-test questionnaires shows that parents have interest in learning how to use the Internet to conduct their contacts with the government and to access information.

The Project outline and outcomes in 2009:

The activities are carried out in 12 Arab localities, in the elementary, junior-high and high schools. The activities included in each school:

A meeting with parents that were identified as lacking knowledge and/or access to the Internet. The purpose of the meeting is to inform parents about the program and to increase their interest in participating e-Citizen workshops . At the beginning of the meeting parents are required to fill a pre-test questionnaire that provides data on Attitudes to technology, attitudes to the Internet and knowledge of its use.
Based on the analysis of the data gathered in the first meeting, a 10 session's workshop (30 hours) based on the "Netwise- Internet Surfing License" tutorial Kit by ISOC-IL is conducted with the parents.. The purpose of the workshop is the increase knowledge and skills of Internet use in everyday activities.
Three months after the Netwise workshop an evaluation meeting is conducted with the parents. At the beginning of the meeting they are required to fill up a questionnaire to have post-intervention measures of change.

Members of the Steering Committee:

Professor Gustavo S. Mesch is the Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Haifa. Has knowledge and experience in research on the digital divide.
Dr. Nimer Bayaa is the Ministry of Education national supervisor for IT studies in the Arab sector and IT consultant & lecturer at Al-Qasemi- Academic College of Education . He Has extensive experience in coordinating programs of computer use in Arab schools.
Shaula Haitner is a member of the Board of the Israel Internet Society. She has experience in the adoption of technology in different settings.
Nava Gilad is the head of the Social task groups Of the Israel Internet Association (ISOC-IL). Has extensive experience in creating and implementing programs for e-Inclusion and digital Culture on internet use.
Amtiaz Fattum is the Project Coordinator of "Promoting Internet in the arab society”, lecturer at The Arab Academic College for Education in Israel – Haifa. She has extensive experience in coordinating programs of computer use in Arab schools.