Online learning hasn’t solved all our problems — it’s shown up one of the biggest problems in our society

“People are driving to library parking lots for [a Wi-Fi] signal, hoping they left them on” reported one teacher.

Although overall digital inclusion is improving in many countries, remoteness and affordability are ensuring that the gap between the haves and have-nots stays wide open, especially for Indigenous groups.

Accessing learning through the internet is unavailable to many of our young people, and it’s not just about connection problems or lack of a device. Not only are much of the current edtech tools inaccessible to young people with special needs, but the spaces in their homes are not set-up for the learning experiences required. I’ve not even touched on the need to access Occupational Therapists (OTs) or Speech Pathologists or any other number of special education professionals available in a face-to-face setting.

We need our edtech to do more. And the only way it’ll do more is if we demand more.

The Evidence

• The mass migration to online learning is leaving disabled students behind
• Online Learning Was Supposed to Democratize Education; Coronavirus Shows It Hasn’t.
• Australian Digital Inclusion Index

‘Online learning hasn’t solved all our problems’ is the twentieth edition of ‘The Provocation’ series. You can sign-up to receive the latest episode directly to your inbox days before it is published online: https://mailchi.mp/notosh.com/the-provocation