When schools closed in March 2020, about 16 million K-12 students in the U.S. didn’t have access to a working device, high-speed Internet, or both. This digital divide disproportionately affects Black, Latinx, and low-income students. What is the digital divide? How does the lack of digital equity impact students doing remote learning? What could the future of digital learning look like?

In the spring of 2021, CUP collaborated with Teaching Artist Stephanie Eche and students from KAPPA International High School in the Bronx to investigate this issue. Students designed their ideal remote learning environments, surveyed their peers and community members, and interviewed key stakeholders working on the issue.

The team gathered what they learned and created Can You See My Screen?, a poster that teaches others about the digital divide and how we might close the gap.

Students premiered their final project virtually through a public debut presentation, where they presented their booklet and shared their creative process.

Get your own booklet here!

See more photos of students in action here!

Watch a video of the students describing their creative process here!

What People Are Saying

“My favorite part of the program was being able to express my creativity, and to later have it show up on a poster. And I’m all about bringing awareness to important issues in our country. Thank you for giving us students a voice in what may seem is an adult problem.” – Abdulaziz Abdulrub, KAPPA Student

“My favorite part of the CUP program was all the cool art activities. For example when we designed the phone. I didn’t think I could make something like that. I don’t think of myself as an artistic person. I joined this program so I could experience that and I achieved that.” – Mariam Aliyu, KAPPA Student

“I’m going to take away the experience of creating artwork for an organization and program. I’ve never had this experience. And I’m really proud that I’m learning something and that my artwork is being shown to so many people. I never imagined this [was possible] before.” – Queenie Wu, KAPPA Student

Funding Support

Major support for this program was provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and Council Member Ritchie Torres.

Special Thanks

Samantha Heiderscheid, Monique Tate, Elijah Thomas, and Tajh Sutton

Resources & Links

Knowledge and Power Preparatory Academy International High School (KAPPA) is a small public high school in the Bronx dedicated to preparing its students for success in college. KAPPA offers the International Baccalaureate program for all interested and on-track Juniors and Seniors

Participants

  • CUP
  • Teaching Artist
  • Stephanie Eche
  • Project Lead
  • Fielding Hong
  • Project Support
  • Elijah Thomas
  • KAPPA International High School
  • Students
  • Abdulaziz Abdulrub

    Angela Aca Cuahuiz

    Mariam Aliyu

    Alexa Cruz

  • Litsi Engrande

  • Celiany Martinez

  • Yisneily Morales

    Jennifer Lopez

  • Carlos Ortiz

    Praisia Ortiz

    Yesenia Saavedra

    Abril Vázquez

    Heriberto Vasquez

    Queenie Wu

    Principal
  • Panorea Panagiosoulis
    Assistant Principal
  • Samantha Heiderscheid