Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Emergency online learning and inequity: developing countries

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

Unsurprisingly, the challenges here are much greater than those in wealthier companies. Moreover, as Tony Bates makes clear, there's a lot of variation - some countries have good internet access in cities, less so in rural areas, in others access to technology may vary between rich and poor, and so on. So his advice is "use the media that make most sense in your situation." And as he notes, in many countries "online learning will be a non-starter for all but the wealthiest, urban students." So, what to do? "Start by asking: who are your students and what access to technology do they already have?" Also, "it is better to reach 90% of students with a slightly less than perfect medium than to reach 50% with a more powerful medium. You are more likely to meet most students with a combination of media. Also the more media the better."

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
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Last Updated: Apr 26, 2024 4:24 p.m.

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