DIGITAL DIVIDE AS A CATALYST TO ECONOMIC EXCLUSION: REMOTE LEARNING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

<p style="text-align:justify">This article analyses the strategies of the four United Kingdom (UK) nations to mitigate the impacts of primary school closures and the shift to remote learning due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. A theoretical framework based on a combination of the field literature of strategy and public value was developed to analyze their initiatives. This is a qualitative and exploratory study, and its data was collected from each country’s website, research papers, and media news. The findings reveal five key areas of action: remote learning; keeping schools open to assist vulnerable students and key workers’ children; access to the Internet and electronic devices to mitigate the digital divide; free meals to disadvantaged learners; and students’ assessment. The analysis suggests that the four nations initially adopted a coordinated action and gradually followed three different paths: deliberate strategies, adjustment to the pandemic situation, and development of emergent strategies. The variegate of strategies show the innovative capacity of the countries and the search for public value. Further research is suggested to address the impact of the strategies.</p>

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Economic Inequality, the Digital Divide, and Remote Learning During COVID-19

The Review of Black Political Economy ◽

10.1177/00346446211017797 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003464462110177

Author(s):

Dania V. Francis ◽

Christian E. Weller

Keyword(s):

Digital Divide ◽

Intergenerational Transmission ◽

Race And Ethnicity ◽

Electronic Device ◽

Wealth Inequality ◽

Educational Opportunities ◽

Housing Instability ◽

Learning Time ◽

The U.S ◽

Remote Learning

Wealth and education establish a cycle of intergenerational inequality. Wealthier households can provide more educational opportunities for their children, who then will have more chances to build wealth for themselves. The digital divide may have emerged as a key reinforcing mechanism of education through wealth and of future wealth through education during the pandemic. The intergenerational transmission of racial wealth inequality likely played out at rapid speed during the pandemic. We analyze the link between wealth, reliable internet and electronic device availability, remote learning time, race, and ethnicity, using the U.S. Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey. We conclude that Black and Hispanic/Latinx households have less reliable internet and devices available. This goes along with fewer hours children spend on remote learning. The lack of internet and devices correlates with less wealth, as reflected in lower homeownership rates and greater housing instability. Black and Hispanic/Latinx households, in particular, are more likely to be renters and face housing instability.

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Telemedizin für Ältere – Chancen mehren, kritische Punkte angehen!

Therapeutische Umschau ◽

10.1024/0040-5930/a000721 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (9) ◽

pp. 577-579

Author(s):

Ulrich Otto ◽

Silvan Tarnutzer ◽

Marlene Brettenhofer

Keyword(s):

Digital Divide

Zusammenfassung. Der Nutzen von Telemedizinanwendungen für Ältere ist daran zu messen, inwieweit sie erhöhte Potenziale für eine selbstständige Lebensführung bei guter Lebensqualität ermöglichen können. Idealerweise ist dieser Nutzen am „Gesundheitsstandort Privathaushalt“ abrufbar, eingebettet in einem bedarfs- und bedürfnisgerechten Gesundheitssystem, in welchem sämtliche medizinischen und pflegerischen Prozesse integrativ miteinander vernetzt sind. Ergänzt werden muss dieses System durch verstärkte Koproduktion mit den PatientInnen selbst und deren Angehörigen. Um sich diesen Zielen zu nähern, braucht es ein Umdenken und die Bereitschaft aller AkteurInnen zu tiefgehenden Veränderungen. Medizinische Institutionen müssen sich als lernende Organisationen stärker an den PatientInnen und deren individuellen Bedarfen sowie an intersektoraler und interdisziplinärer Kooperation orientieren. In der Gesundheitspolitik ist es nötig, Verteilungs- und Gerechtigkeitsaspekte stärker zu gewichten. Dabei gilt es besonders, bildungsferneren Schichten und in ländlichen Regionen den Zugang zur Nutzung von Technologien zu erleichtern, um digital divide-Phänomene zu vermeiden. Der Einsatz neuer Gesundheitstechnologien muss deshalb durch flankierende Vorbereitungen und Begleitung durch schnell erreichbare AnsprechpartnerInnen beim Einsatz unterstützt werden. Hinzu kommen Anforderungen an Finanzierungsmodelle und erweiterte Krankenkassenleistungen.

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