Edtech and the digital divide

Five things I’ve learned in the crucial quest for progress.

I’ve spent much of the last 10 years of my career in the education technology sector trying to help answer this question, I think I’ve learned some key factors along the way. Here’s 5, but first I’ll explain some context.

Firstly “Edtech” seems to me to be a very broad term. Essentially used to describe almost any technology that might be involved in education or used at some stage by educators, learners, support staff the list goes on. See what I mean? Broad. And this is part of the challenge. More on this later…

Then there’s the term “digital divide”. Perhaps most often used to describe the startling statistics surrounding the limits and challenges faced by sections of the community. Economic hardship and deprivation often exacerbated by limits to tech access.

In 2023, the Digital Poverty Alliance, in collaboration with Deloitte, released an extensive report on the economic implications of digital poverty in the UK. It estimated that ~20% of Children are impacted.

These challenges are critical. It’s also worth noting, that there are in my view multiple “digital divides”. Here’s a further thought, what would you say is the opposite of digital divide in education?  A wealthy country with schools full of computers? All Schools and communities provided with equal access to technology? But which types of technology? And how would it all be put to good use? How would everyone be trained to use it? and what is success anyway? Or at least progress/impact, again more on this later. Right back to my five things:

1. Funding and resource to be able to afford to buy more stuff clearly helps, but it’s not the only factor. Is this a controversial statement? Would all sections of the education community benefit from increased investment, I’d suggest most would agree and point to a terrifying range of examples investment need and not just of course related to technology. But armed with increased investment, would all issues and problems in this area disappear? My career has provided international perspective on this topic, I’ve never got the sense from those I’ve met in countries with much broader tech provision that issues don’t still remain. Is there an international education system with all the right answers?

2. Choice is a good thing, but do schools and colleges feel blizzarded with options? I attended an education technology event a year or so ago which I hadn’t attended before, I was there largely to listen rather than present and so accordingly I’d dressed somewhat casually. Did I resemble a teacher? As I walked around the exhibition in my ‘teacheresque’ attire, I was confronted with sales rep after rep attempting to strike up conversation (not criticising, I’ve been one). Is this the experience of a beautiful person walking through a night club? I wouldn’t know, but it made me realise just how tough it must be – mainly for those in the education sector tasked with making informed technology choices in the face of all too limited resource (point 1). But also, the withering array of options to consider and products championed by tech firms. Who do you trust? What works?

3. Fragmentation of knowledge, that point about “what works?” is crucial. There are somewhere around 30,000 schools in the UK all faced with that question. Some might be in a group or region that consolidates some of the options. But many/ most that I’ve met, often frame their own. How to decide an affordable digital strategy that works for each school. Can other schools with further experience in investigating help others earlier in the process? How to know who they are and seek their insight? Should there just be an instruction manual? Not that simple of course, although there is help out there.

4. In my experience a member of school staff who’s a champion in the area of edtech can be crucial in defining digital strategy, but also interfacing with the ‘edtech’ community, learning from and sharing with others. Supporting training and support provision for staff. I’ve seen examples of this as a head or leadership team member through to a subject staff member with a particular passion. But crucially it’s the passion of the champion that often is pivotal in school progress. People remain crucial in the digital world I have no doubt!

5. Teachers are awesome, and they hate being sold to. That was one of the first things I learned from a teacher when working with the sector. Over time I realised they are generally also pretty good at figuring out your motives. So my best advice to any tech community members reading this, care for the sector, care about the teachers and schools you work with and that your business’s technology should help support. Afterall, impactful use of Edtech should be good for both the education and tech communities. Keep focussed on that synergy.

Final thought towards progress in this critical area. There are many challenges, resource but also the rate of change, fuelled by digital (I nearly went the whole article without mentioning AI), makes figuring out all of the above a fast-moving target. How difficult it must be for those trying to support young people in career advice. Crucial then, that progress is thought about as an evolving process and approach, that embodies an evolving technology landscape and an evolving set of skills to arm learners (and staff) with for an evolving world.

Interested in learning more? LEO Academy Trust have embarked on an extremely insightful assessment of the role and impact of digital technology, check out their Pedtech Impact Report.

Phillip Hedger, CEO at the Trust notes: “The challenges and opportunities surrounding EdTech are immense, but I firmly believe that with collaborative effort and a focus on the needs of our teachers and learners, we can harness technology’s potential to enhance education for all. At LEO Academy Trust, we remain committed to bridging the digital divide and empowering our students with the skills they need to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.”

There is, in my view, among many challenges, also real hope and inspiration. Often in my experience in the form of incredibly humble, brilliant teachers and educators that are happy to explore new techniques, are generous with their time in helping others and remain curious about learning from others.