Factors for Bridging the Digital Gap in Education

The “digital divide” is often seen as a gap between those with access to technology and those who are not connected. UNESCO says, “We need new technologies to support learning and reading.” Still, equally important is what we might call a “technology of learning” — a way of learning that makes the best use of technologies for everyone. That’s why it is essential to bridge the digital divide in education.


ILM – Integrated Learning Module

In the US, a third of low-income households and two-thirds of low-income rural households do not subscribe to broadband. This article will discuss some factors to consider for bridging the digital divide.

  1. Providing Access to the Poor

Here are three immediate options for bridging the digital divide that poor, minority, and LEP children face in their homes.

  • Give students and parents access to take-home technology.
  • Increase access to community centers for students and parents.
  • Improve students’ access to technology in their classrooms and schools and the quality of that access.

Several cutting-edge initiatives have used the first strategy, which gives students access to laptop computers, graphing calculators, and home-use email accounts. Typically, the equipment is loaned to students in the same way that textbooks and lab equipment are.

For parents and students, some programs offer a hardware and software checkout system and basic instructions on how to use the items.

2. Having Computers in Every Home

Second, cheap broadband connections mean little to people who don’t own a computer. Getting digital technology into the hands of everyone is a critical component of any digital inclusion program. There are several such initiatives in operation around the world.

3. Digital Literacy

A lack of digital literacy exacerbates the digital divide. Computers are primarily used as electronic workbooks for basic skills restoration, not to foster student creativity, solve problems, record and manipulate data, or produce multimedia summaries of what students have learned.

For those who lack digital skills, fear of this unknown technology can be a significant impediment. Once everyone has affordable access to and access to computing devices, the next step is to teach new users how to put technology to work for them.

Last but not least, technology has impacted every aspect of our society. At ILM, our platform enables learning to take place anywhere and for anyone, bridging the digital divide in education.

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ILM - Integrated Learning Modules

At ILM Software, we aim to transform the education process with a user-friendly, virtual learning ecosystem where students will be placed in real-life conditions in order to solve real-world problems.

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