The technology has become advanced to such an extent that it has made the world a smaller place. Everything has become intricately connected and to get access to any mode of information and service, we are just a click away from availing it.
In today’s digital age, connectivity has become a necessity rather than a luxury. To cite a few examples, a few years ago owning a smartphone with an internet connection was considered to be a luxury but today, most of our daily functions are dependent on how connected and accessible we are to others. Communications are much easier with messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc. rather than the traditional SMS.
So getting to the definition, Digital equity refers to the accessibility of technology to people so that they can engage with society in the modern world. This term is also popularly known as digital inclusion where technology is easily accessible to the people.
For several years there were concerns about this digital divide and a major part of it was referred to whether the various sects of the population had access to hardware, such as computers. The divide got even more complex as the technological advancements began to evolve. And the concern for it grew beyond the accessibility of hardware i.e accessibility to the internet, the connection speed required for it, and the skills needed to effectively utilize it.
To overcome this barrier, it should begin from the grassroots level. The schools and educational institutes have taken the initiative to overcome this. It is easier to define a problem than to solve it. Thus to ensure the digital equity in the classrooms is established, accessibility to the technology for children is not enough, therefore schools are hiring trainers and teachers who can help the children in overcoming this barrier with ease.
In several decades of research, there were certain interesting findings. When teachers get access to new technologies, they use them to extend the existing practices. Here are the steps and procedures of how the schools overcame the digital divide:
1- Identifying access challenges:
The first and foremost step is to identify what problems are being caused at present. once, the barriers charted down and they came up with a viable solution with immediate effect. The primary challenge was the lack of technology to begin the operation, once that was taken care of, they were able to proceed further.
2- Securing additional resources:
Tackling a problem is not enough, one must be prepared for any issue that may crop up soon. So securing additional resources and backups helped in taking the steps ahead and also enabled them to be prepared in case of any unforeseen circumstance take place.
3- Universally accessible assignments:
There should be more to just than providing access to technology, just because the children have the same access doesn’t mean all of them will have the same learning needs, abilities or the necessary support. Hence, instead of assigning tasks and homework, the schools opened up a platform where the children came together to learn, and collaborate with other classmates. This way, the children not only gain knowledge but also learn the applications of the same.
Digital Equity in education has come a long way. There was a time when schools were struggling to get access to technology and the internet to conduct various activities. Now in the present scenario, various sessions take place with the help of technology to students are getting easy access and the learning has become effective. To achieve complete digital equity, parents must also involve themselves in the learning process along with the child. Not only will the child progress but the parent will also come to know about their child’s potential and help them along in overcoming whatever barrier they may face.
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