Immediacy on the Web/page 2
Abstract
Technological competency is becoming an essential outcome of educational systems in the
emerging Information Age. Distance education (DE) courses are more common while computer-
mediated communication (CMC) is used in an increasing number of technology-intensive (TI)
onsite university courses as well. However, not all students enter college with a sound
preparation in CMC technologies. Those with little access to computers and the Internet can be
left behind the technologically competent, the key concern of the “digital divide.” This project
examines a new means of addressing the digital divide that focuses on initial encounters between
the technologically inexperienced and the instructional technologies themselves. Anxiety-
Uncertainty Management Theory, which describes the anxiety and uncertainty felt when
individuals experience a different culture (Gudykunst, 1988, 1995), is used to understand
inexperienced users’ contact with technology as that contact might generate similar stresses that
can interfere with effective communication. If so, the technologically inexperienced may avoid
opportunities to increase their technological competence or hold negative attitudes that can
undermine persistence and achievement. Thus, mere exposure to technology may not be enough
to narrow the digital divide. Mediated forms of immediacy are examined as a means of attracting
and motivating the technologically inexperienced to engage the technologies as a first step
toward building their skills. Results indicate that mediated forms of immediacy predict lower
uncertainty, higher motivation, and greater affective learning involving a TI course. Overall, the
results provide evidence that efforts to narrow the digital divide by providing technology access
can be strengthened by incorporating mediated immediacy.
Convention