How much school students attend is a powerful indicator of their wellbeing and a strong predictor of their future success in school. Prior research has documented the myriad in-school and out-of-school factors that contribute to high levels of student absenteeism, many emerging from the root causes of poverty and disengagement. The shift to online…

Equitably expanding technology access among K-12 students has long been viewed as critical for equalizing educational opportunities. But these interventions may influence students' academic outcomes in unexpected ways. Prior research suggests key technological resources, like broadband Internet, are a double-edged sword, conferring both…

This is the fourth in a series of five briefs published by Office of Education Technology (OET) on the key considerations facing educational leaders as they work to build and sustain core digital infrastructure for learning. These briefs offer recommendations to complement the fundamental infrastructure considerations outlined in the 2017 OET…

Digital literacy development begins in early childhood and contributes to a widening digital divide. The present study examines the complex interplay between family socioeconomic status (SES), home digital resources (HDR), parental mediation (PM), and early digital literacy development in young children. A survey titled Home Digital Practice…

This study explores the classroom management challenges encountered by teachers in online classrooms compared to traditional classrooms. A qualitative case study approach was employed, whereby 97 teachers with experience of remote teaching were interviewed using semi-structured questions to identify and analyze the challenges encountered. The…

If properly trained, rural teachers can successfully digitalize their classrooms even with limited resources at hand. This study aims to empirically examine how teaching with limited digital resources affects student engagement and student performance in the rural school setting. The study involved 245 middle school-aged children from three rural…

Dadaab Refugee Complex hosts refugees from the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. According to a UNHCR (2023) report, at 31 January 2023 Dadaab refugee camps were host to a total population of 233,828 registered refugees and asylum seekers, representing 41% of the total recognized forcibly displaced people in Kenya. This paper will explore…

Purpose: In today's educational landscape, technology has become an undeniable force in shaping pedagogical approaches and even the definition of learning itself. But this path contains many obstacles. Within the higher education ecosystem, the digital divide -- the disparity in access and use of technology -- is proving to be a significant…

This publication outlines the Digital Equity Framework--a set of principles, guidelines, and policy recommendations designed to bridge the digital divides at the state level, for K-12 systems, and for higher education. It introduces three frameworks for digital equity, designed to lay the groundwork for learners to fully participate in society…

For decades, the field of educational technology (ed-tech) has been characterised by overoptimism and lofty promises that often fail to materialise. This research investigates the narrative claims or hype of ed-tech across diverse education contexts in seven Asian-Pacific countries. It uses a qualitative meta-analysis of research reports developed…

Background: Developments in digital technologies have transformed how people interact with the world, offering employment, education, communication, health benefits and entertainment. Research has shown that not everyone can easily access digital content, particularly people with intellectual disabilities. Despite internet access being recognised…

This systematic review aims to examine the factors that impact the sustainability of open educational resources (OER) initiatives. A total of 226 articles from the Web of Science, ERIC and SCOPUS databases were subjected to content analysis to identify factors that influence the sustainability of OER initiatives based on the 3M (macro, meso and…

New Internet-based educational technologies, platforms and applications are becoming increasingly popular among learners worldwide. Using them, students and learners are finding ways to make learning easier, more fun and more effective. However, the digitalization of education raises questions about the distribution of digital resources and who…

The digital age has opened up new and exciting opportunities for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in universities. But, is going digital reinforcing the existing social inequalities? This qualitative research examines the three levels of digital divide and digital inequality among learners at India's National Open University, IGNOU. The findings…