Closing the Gap in Educational Technology

Exploring the Digital Gap in Classrooms

The importance of having access to technology in the home to do homework is shown here as a mother assists her kid in using a laptop. When discussing education, the phrase “digital divide” describes the disparity between pupils’ levels of access to digital resources and the internet. The expertise and assistance required to make good use of technology are just as much a part of this gap as the availability of gadgets and fast internet. Marginalized populations – including many low-income, rural, and minority families – are disproportionately impacted, frequently lacking dependable access or several devices at home​. During the COVID-19 epidemic, there was a noticeable shift to online learning. Students without the necessary equipment had a hard time keeping up. The fact that it has made it into scholarly publications like Edubirdie notes shows how seriously this inequity is taken in the field of education.

Root Causes of the Digital Gap

Inequalities in infrastructure and socioeconomic status are two of the main causes of the digital gap in schools. Income inequality is a big factor since it allows affluent families to buy computers and internet access for their homes while low-income families typically cannot. To illustrate the point, a recent study by Pew Research indicated that although 57% of persons with incomes below $30,000 had broadband at home, over 95% of those with incomes over $100,000 per year have. The role of geography is equally crucial. Entire communities of students may be left offline or with very restricted access due to the poor internet infrastructure in rural school districts. In many circumstances, pupils only have sluggish dial-up connections, if any at all. Modern technology may still be out of reach for schools in low-income communities, even in large cities. As an example of the difficulties under-resourced schools have in supporting digital learning, consider a school in a low-tax region in Pennsylvania that had just 30–60 laptops for around 1,300 pupils. A disparity in economic and geographical access to technology has emerged in the educational environment as a result of these factors, which in turn are the product of uneven infrastructural development and poverty.

Effects of the Digital Gap on Learners

The digital gap has far-reaching effects on pupils, influencing both their immediate and future academic performance. The so-called “homework gap,” in which pupils who do not have access to the internet or computers at home find it difficult to finish their schoolwork after school, is one direct result. Despite the fact that more than 70% of American instructors provide assignments that need internet access, over five million school-aged children do not have access to the internet at home, and almost one in ten teenagers have said they have not been able to complete assignments because of this lack of technology… Students who are unable to easily access digital materials often find themselves falling behind academically as time goes on. 

They don’t get to participate in online research, activities, or skill development opportunities. Research shows that these pupils often do worse and are less “digitally” prepared than their classmates who have more access to technology. Because of this lack of experience, students may struggle to keep up with the technological demands of higher education and the workplace. Because of inequalities in access and quality of online education, kids from low-income households lagged significantly behind their higher-income counterparts during COVID-19 remote learning, losing almost twice as many months of learning time. This effect was magnified during the pandemic period. In a nutshell, people who are unable to access digital resources face fewer educational possibilities and a wider accomplishment gap as a result of the digital divide.

Initiatives by the government and policymakers

There have been many government efforts and regulations aimed at closing the digital achievement gap in schools. The focus of these initiatives is on public funding for infrastructure and access. As an example, in the US, schools and libraries have received internet access worth tens of billions of dollars under the E-rate program run by the Federal Communications Commission during the last twenty years. The need of universal internet access for educational fairness was recently acknowledged by the government, which recently spent an extra $42 billion via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to extend broadband networks into underprivileged regions in 2021. A lot of governments have started initiatives to lower the prices of gadgets and services for families and students, and it’s not just about connection.

For low-income families, there are programs that provide monthly internet fees as a stipend or even free computers and tablets. For example, as a precaution against the pandemic, some governments and nations provided students in need with loaner gadgets and Wi-Fi hotspots. Important public-private collaborations include the U.S. ConnectED program, which teamed up with private digital firms to provide low-income schools with training, software, and tablets. Schools, businesses, and governments working together in this way have increased access significantly. In sum, lawmakers are making strides to guarantee that all students, irrespective of socioeconomic status or geographic location, have access to reliable internet and may fully engage in online education via a combination of subsidies, new laws, and collaborative efforts.

Value of Investing in and Providing Training for Teachers

While it’s critical, spending money on gear and internet isn’t the whole answer. Providing teachers with the resources they need to successfully incorporate technology into the classroom is of equal importance. One group that is actively working to bridge the digital achievement gap in the classroom is educators. Even with the best technology, classroom instruction may still go wrong if teachers aren’t confident using digital resources and don’t know how to accommodate students with different levels of technological competence. Teachers may get the knowledge and self-assurance to use technology in a pedagogically sound manner via training programs and professional development seminars. As part of this process, educators must acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the requirements of students with varying levels of technological proficiency, as well as to effectively use digital resources in the classroom. 

It is also important to have ongoing help, such as IT support workers or peer mentorship in schools, so that students are not derailed from learning due to technical difficulties or software issues. If educators are well-prepared, they will be better able to recognize which students are having difficulty owing to a lack of knowledge or access and adapt their teaching strategies to meet their needs. When necessary, they will also be able to offer students digital literacy development tools, such as offline assignments or printed materials. Essentially, if instructors are empowered via training, technology can be utilized to bring people together, not separate them. It allows teachers to make classrooms welcoming to all students, so that they may use technology to their advantage regardless of their background or skill level.

Interventions in the Community and by Nonprofits

When it comes to closing the digital achievement gap for children, community groups and NGOs are just as important as government initiatives. When it comes to helping families and children who need access to the internet, these grassroots and local efforts often go where large-scale programs fail. Students whose families do not have access to the internet or personal computers often find that public libraries and community centers are ideal places to access technology. In order to provide a secure environment for students to do homework and engage in online learning after school, many libraries provide free Wi-Fi, computer workstations, and even laptop lending programs. Actually, a large portion of digital literacy training now comes from library systems. In fact, according to one state study, library personnel were responsible for 84% of the state’s digital literacy training sessions, highlighting the vital role of libraries in educating the community about IT skills.

In addition, for-profit groups have begun initiatives to provide disadvantaged kids with access to technology. 

There are organizations that organize drives to collect devices or that restore outdated computers and provide them to those living on low incomes. So that students don’t have to go far to access online, several organizations are concentrating on creating free or low-cost internet hotspots in underprivileged areas. School districts, nonprofits, and companies came together during the epidemic to help children and their families. They parked Wi-Fi-enabled buses in remote regions, set up internet connections in school parking lots, and made “learning pods” where groups of students could interact. Since a well-informed and connected populace is good for business, more and more philanthropic organizations and tech corporations are putting money into digital inclusion initiatives. Even though they may start out modest, these community and charity initiatives build up to have a big impact. Ensuring that a child’s lack of personal resources does not completely prohibit them from accessing the digital world, they address important gaps by addressing children outside of school.

Prospects for the Future and Advancements in Technology

Many new developments and solutions are on the horizon that should help close the digital achievement gap in classrooms in the years to come. Improving networking technologies is one way that shows promise. Fast internet is becoming available in more places, even those who didn’t have access to broadband before, thanks to the deployment of 5G wireless networks. In the meantime, new internet services are popping up via satellite, connecting rural areas that are too far away for regular cable or cell tower coverage. These services use constellations of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide broadband internet. These technologies have the potential to greatly expand internet connectivity on a global scale as they develop and drop in price, connecting even the most remote schools and pupils to the internet. The creation of affordable gadgets and offline educational resources is another area of emphasis. Some of the newer, more reasonably priced computers and tablets are coming with instructional materials already installed, so students may study even when the power goes out. Students in areas with spotty internet service might still benefit greatly from these resources; they could watch instructional videos and use educational software even when they weren’t connected to the internet. Students with low-end cellphones or limited data may still take part in online learning platforms because to efforts to make educational software more mobile-friendly and efficient with bandwidth.

In the future, initiatives that promote digital literacy and inclusivity will still be crucial. All members of a community may benefit from increased familiarity with technology if teachers take the time to educate not only children but also parents and adults. The development of new types of divisions may be averted by continuous training, especially as technology continues to advance (with trends such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence on the horizon). The digital gap in education will not be closed overnight; rather, it will need constant innovation, funding, and teamwork. Every student, no matter their background or location, should have an equal chance to benefit from the digital revolution in learning. We can get there with the help of contemporary technology and a strong commitment from the public and private sectors.