ERIC Number: EJ1402547
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0892-3647
EISSN: EISSN-1538-9286
Available Date: N/A
Digital Divide and Bridges: Navigating COVID-19 in Colombian Education
American Journal of Distance Education, v37 n4 p261-275 2023
During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions in Colombia implemented technology-mediated distance education models. However, inequities in access were evident. In Colombia, the digital divide is related to the geography, socioeconomic class, and ethnicity. The Ministry of National Education and the country's educational communities joined efforts to build bridges and continue educating the population despite the difficulties. This exploratory qualitative research project was developed to reflect upon the effects of the pandemic on Colombian education, focussing upon the digital divide and the strategies implemented to reduce it. According to this study, the best way to bridge the digital divide is to mix older communication modalities and forms with new technology. During COVID-19, the main strategies used in Colombia involved the development of work guides or pamphlets; educational content on radio, television, and social media; digital educational resources accessible online; and the cell phone for direct contact. It is concluded that innovative bridges can be built to reduce the digital gap but only by embracing mediums of communication from across history.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, COVID-19, Pandemics, Electronic Learning, Distance Education, Equal Education, Geographic Location, Socioeconomic Status, Ethnicity, Individual Differences
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Colombia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A