scholarly journals Implications of the Digital Divide for the Learning Process During the COVID-19 Crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Gila Cohen Zilka ◽  
Idit Finkelstein ◽  
Revital Cohen ◽  
Ilan Daniels Rahimi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Limited Access ◽  
Digital Environments ◽  
Information And Communication

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, higher education institutions organized for online learning. The aim of the present study was to examine the implications of online learning for students with limited access to information and communication technology (ICT), content infrastructures, and digital environments, assuming that such limited access may impair their ongoing learning process when instruction moves online, and cause situations of stress and frustration, as well as a desire to drop out of school. The mixed-method study involved 639 students studying at institutions of higher education in Israel, who completed a questionnaire containing open and closed questions. The findings show that 13% of participants reported that they had limited access, difficulties, and malfunctions resulting from a weak connection to the Internet, and numerous disconnects, especially during synchronous lectures. They reported having difficulties downloading content from the Internet and uploading materials. It has been shown that limited access to the Internet has implications for the learning process, motivation, self-efficacy, as well as for feelings and emotions. It is liable to lead to the widening or the creation of gaps between students who have full and those who have limited access to the Internet. The findings show that little use is made of forums (10%). A more extensive use of the forums is recommended in courses where students have limited access to the Internet, to create a supportive learning community.

Moving Targeted Online Learner Analytics Into the Hands of Teachers

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Gregory Cottrell ◽  
Isabel Christine Resende
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Classroom Teachers ◽  
Online Behavior ◽  
The Status ◽  
Digital Environments ◽  
New Form

Every time that a student uses the internet on a school-issued computer, a trail of data about their online learning experiences is created. Until recently this data has largely gone unnoticed for educational purposes. This chapter will explore how research into the use of student online behavior data can be used to improve teaching and learning in digital environments. Techniques for the collection and analysis of targeted online learner analytics (TOLA) will be presented along with the findings for how TOLA impacted the teaching and learning process of real classroom teachers. The powerful and new form of data has the potential to disrupt the status quo of education, and this chapter will take a research-based look at that future.

scholarly journals Student access to and skills in using technology in an open and distance learning context

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanlie Liebenberg ◽  
Yuraisha Chetty ◽  
Paul Prinsloo
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
South African ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Access To Technology ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
South African Higher Education

<p>Amidst the different challenges facing higher education, and particularly distance education (DE) and open distance learning (ODL), access to information and communication technology (ICT) and students’ abilities to use ICTs are highly contested issues in the South African higher education landscape. While there are various opinions about the scope and definition of the digital divide, increasing empirical evidence questions the uncritical use of the notion of the digital divide in South African and international higher education discourses.</p><p>In the context of the University of South Africa (Unisa) as a mega ODL institution, students’ access to technology and their functional competence are some of the critical issues to consider as Unisa prepares our graduates for an increasingly digital and networked world.</p><p>This paper discusses a descriptive study that investigated students’ access to technology and their capabilities in using technology, within the broader discourse of the “digital divide.” Results support literature that challenges a simplistic understanding of the notion of the “digital divide” and reveal that the nature of access is varied.</p>

scholarly journals An Effective Practice of ICT Tools in Higher Education to Improve the Teaching Learning Process

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (06) ◽  
pp. 940-960
Author(s):  
Dr. Kendaganna Swamy S ◽  
◽  
Shaila H Kopal ◽  
Sushmitha N ◽  
Shruthi P ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Internet In Education ◽  
Teaching Learning

Education is a process that simplifies learning. It should be a continuous process in one’s life to attain success. Over the decades, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have gradually begun to play a very important role in education, with their usage in education is growing worldwide continuously. These methods allow access to information through the internet. In education, ICT is the method of teaching that uses information and communication technology to support, improve and optimize the transfer of information, in turn leading to the invention of smart education. This improves the quality of teaching, the learning process of students and ultimately facilitates e-learning. It is commonly believed that technology can empower educators and students, making substantial contributions to knowledge and achievement. This paper gives an insight into the various tools that help instructors to develop online course content using Learning Management System tools. These tools allow the instructors to conduct online classes from any location using tutor tools and desktop recording tools to record screen output for further use. The instructor can assess the students in their course using assessment tools and can also enhance teaching methods using innovative teaching tools. The paper also throws limelight on the feedback taken by the faculty as well as the students about the usage of various tools in higher education which helps in analyzing the best suitable tools.

scholarly journals Use of ICT to Enhance the Learning Process in Higher Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
Chetlal Prasad ◽  
Pushpa Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Teaching Learning

ICTs in Education refers to the development of information and communications technology specifically for teaching/learning purposes, while the ICTs in education involves the adoption of general components of information and communication technologies in the teaching learning process. The National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME-ICT), launched in 2009 by the Central Government. Let’s see how Information and Communication Technology (ICT) evolved the Higher Education system: The role of ICT in higher education, what students learn, The role of ICT in Higher Education, how Students Learn, The role of ICT in Higher Education, when students learn, The role of ICT in higher education, where students learn. Online courses, development of e-content, e-learning, digital libraries, online encyclopaedias, journals, and books would promote learning and make knowledge available to all irrespective of the distance or location or financial resources. Government intervention is necessary so that ICT can be made successful in higher education. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has the proven power to change the world. This acronym refers to the merging of audiovisual and telephone networks with the computer single unified system of cabling.

Role of Universities in Leveraging ICT for Corporate Education

2012 ◽  
pp. 285-305
Author(s):  
B M Subraya
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Recent Past ◽  
Corporate Education ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Innovative Model ◽  
Information And Communication

In the recent past, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has impacted human lives in multiple dimensions. No aspect of human endeavour is untouched by ICT and education domain is no exception to this. Universities need to leverage ICT to improve the quality and relevance of higher education, which would positively impact the corporates, apart from other sectors. In this context, this chapter provides an innovative model which the universities could adapt and revolutionize the higher education. The best practices being followed by Infosys Limited, the IT corporate giant, narrated in this chapter could be leveraged by the universities in the interest of the learning community, the corporates and the society at large.

Current and Future Trends in Higher Education Learning

2015 ◽  
pp. 277-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Holz-Clause ◽  
Dileepkumar Guntuku ◽  
Vikram Koundinya ◽  
Reginald Clause ◽  
Kanika Singh
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Future Trend ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Methods Of Learning ◽  
Teaching Learning

Emerging educational practices and growing demand from education researchers and learners appear to be driving a shift toward the learner and context-centered teaching approach. Higher education is transitioning delivery from a predominantly teacher-centered mode to a non-traditional learner-oriented one. This change is being primarily facilitated by the advent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in curriculum design and delivery ushering online learning. In this chapter, we discuss the current and future trends in higher education for curriculum design and delivery using online learning. We present Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as an online teaching-learning future trend that can help provide educational access to millions of students geographically situated all over the world. We share a case study from India, highlighting the initiatives in the field of higher education and course delivery with the use of ICTs and the changes in methods of learning-content delivery. The advantages and challenges associated with MOOCs are also discussed.

From E-Learning to Games-Based E-Learning

2011 ◽  
pp. 1763-1773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Connolly ◽  
Mark Stansfield
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
The Internet ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Approach To Learning ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Internet Gaming ◽  
E Learning ◽  
New Form

The emergence of the Internet has had a significant impact on higher education where we have seen elearning evolve from a marginal form of education to a commonly accepted and increasingly popular alternative to traditional face-to-face education. While e-learning has many advantages, there have been problems identified, such as lack of contact leading to feelings of isolation; the need for a motivated, self-disciplined, and mature learner; the monotonous nature of some e-learning materials; and increased drop out rates. If e-learning has developed a reputation for being ‘boring and mindless,’ games have developed the reputation for being engaging and challenging. In recent years, a new form of learning has been developing, namely games-based e-learning, which builds on the successes of e-learning while providing a more stimulating and relevant learning environment for younger people who have been brought up in an environment of powerful home PCs, graphic-rich multiplayer Internet gaming, and mobile phones with ever-increasing functionality. This article will explore the concept of games-based e-learning, discuss some of its pedagogic underpinnings, and examine barriers that may limit the uptake and development of this relatively new approach to learning.

Understanding the Online Learner

2009 ◽  
pp. 482-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Traditional Classrooms ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Online Learners ◽  
The People ◽  
Learning Programs

The expansion of distance education programs has allowed institutions of higher education to be successful in their collective mission to make educational programs more accessible to adults who normally would not have that access. Indeed, online learning has brought education to the people. Access to school is now as simple as logging on to the Internet in the privacy of one’s own home. Who are these students taking courses online? Why are they in online courses versus traditional classrooms? What is different about them, about their situations, and their expectations? Why are some online learners successful and others not? Why do some online learners continue to work through programs while others drop out? For online learning programs to be successful in the long term, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the online learner. This chapter examines the adult online learner in higher education.

ICT in Chinese Higher Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 1614-1627
Author(s):  
Xiaobin Li
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Chinese Higher Education ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
Network Information ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
The World ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Education In China

A recent report from China Internet Network Information Center indicates that by the end of June 2015, 668 million Chinese have used the internet, which places China as the country with the most internet users in the world. As more Chinese get online, the internet has been integrated into providing education in China, where the age group using the internet the most often is between the ages of 20 and 29. Many of these youth are higher education students. With 34.6 million students the Chinese higher education system is the largest in the world, in which a significant proportion of the students' learning has been impacted by information and communication technology (ICT). The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of how the development of ICT in China has influenced higher education, what opportunities ICT offers for higher education, and what challenges Chinese face in further developing higher education with ICT.

Digital inclusion

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald M. Baecker
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Digital Devices ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Rich

J. C. R. Licklider, Vannevar Bush, Doug Engelbart, Ted Nelson, and Alan Kay optimistically and exuberantly imagined how computers could better the lives of people. Much of this has come to pass. The Internet supports learning by ‘students’ at all levels. Information on laws, procedures, diseases, and medical care may be found on the web. The Internet now provides the easiest, or in some cases the only, way to pay bills or order items such as books, groceries, and even clothing. It is a means of communication with family, friends, individuals one would like to meet, individuals with whom one could share insights, and potential employers. Music, films, and other means of entertainment stream to our digital devices. This implies that those for whom digital technology is not available are at a disadvantage. The gap between the technology-haves and the technology-have-nots became known in the 1990s as a digital divide. The concept is nuanced; we can speak of availability or scarcity of hardware, such as personal computers (PCs) and mobile phones; of infrastructure such as cellular networks; of communications bandwidth that enables a smooth media viewing experience; of expertise in using the technology; of commitment to its use; and of engagement in the process. Some only consume information; others contribute their ideas via methods such as blogging and tweeting. Yet a better way to describe digital technology widely accessible is the goal of social inclusion, to allow all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, location, race, gender, or ability or disability, to take advantage of the benefits of modern computing and telecommunications. To have terminology that is even more evocative, we shall use the more modern and descriptive term of digital inclusion. This has been defined by the International Telecommunications Union as ‘empowering people through information and communication technologies (ICTs)’. The term ‘people’ is meant here to imply all people throughout the world. This chapter will first examine the digital divide between the haves and the have-nots (often the rich and the poor) within several nations. Examples of the benefits of digital inclusion will be cited.

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