Ubiquitous learning focuses on the idea of bringing the classroom to you. Educators can teach and students can learn anywhere and at any time - all you need is internet access and your laptop, tablet, or even your phone. Kids can take supplemental classes after school, and adults can take classes from top universities around the world all from the comfort of their own homes. It has been said that virtual learning finally makes education available to everyone.

In the age of COVID-19, what was once considered a luxury has now become essential. Schools all over the world have been forced to close their doors and switch to virtual or blended learning models. Desks have turned into kitchen tables, parents have turned into teachers, and recess has turned into Zoom meetings. Students are relying on virtual resources now more than ever. But what does that mean for those who can’t afford it?

According to a 2019 Pew Research Report, 44% of people in households making less than $30,000 annually do not have home broadband (internet) services, 46% do not have a computer, and 64% do not have a tablet. This disparity is also seen in what is called the “homework gap” – the gap between school-age children who have access to high-speed internet at home and those who don’t. The homework gap forces students in these households to find other ways to access the internet - sometimes that means a trip to the public library, sometimes it means sitting in a business parking lot trying to use the free WiFi. Other students simply aren’t able to complete the work.

There’s no doubt that virtual learning is a benefit for countless students and closes many gaps by providing educational opportunities that may otherwise be unavailable. But for those who aren’t as fortunate, the gaps continue to grow.

References:

Anderson, Monica and Madhumitha Kumar. (2019). “Digital divide persists even as lower-income Americans make gains in tech adoption”

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/05/07/digital-divide-persists-even-as-lower-income-americans-make-gains-in-tech-adoption/

McLaughlin, Clare. (2016) “The Homework Gap: The 'Cruelest Part of the Digital Divide”
https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/homework-gap-cruelest-part-digital-divide