Opinion | Digital Learning in Remote Areas “Connecting Villages to the world of knowledge”

Today’s evolving world of education goes far beyond the traditional classroom teaching methods. The emergence of digital learning has revolutionized not only teaching techniques but also opened up many new possibilities. Today digital learning has become an important resource through which education & good teachers become available for those living in distant locations. Digital learning can play a very important role in reducing inequalities by giving opportunities to countless students. Yet despite all the advantages of digital learning it faces a lot of barriers including poor internet access & lack of devices.

Digital learning is the concept of utilizing technological devices like Smartphone’s, computers, tablets & the internet for education purposes. Classes conducted online, online courses, recorded classes, virtual class rooms & other types of modern education technologies fall under the domain of digital learning. The corona virus outbreak was the time when the significance of digital learning came into the limelight. Schools & institutions remained shut down during this time but studies were carried out online. One of the biggest advantages that have been given by digital learning is education. The schools in many villages & other far off places usually do not have qualified teachers & good library facilities. With digital learning, children can take lessons from experts who are teaching in various other parts of the country & sometimes even across the globe. A child sitting in his/her little village can now access lessons, educational videos & study material that used to be restricted only to urban areas before. This makes up for the disparity in the standard of education between urban & rural areas. Another benefit is that digital learning provides flexibility to students. One can study at their own speed. Recorded lectures & other online sources can be accessed anytime. Children who have to help their parents in farming or any other chores at home can also take lessons whenever they find time. They can revise difficult concepts again & again. Digital learning offers diverse options for learning where the learners can take up courses beyond those offered in schools. The courses include coding, languages, entrepreneurship, graphics & many others. They have a chance to explore themselves & realize their strengths & what they can do in the future.

Despite of these opportunities still in remote areas are far away from digital learning on account of poor connectivity. There are still many rural zones in the country that experience poor or unreliable network connections. The process of studying becomes disrupted, videos are unable to be downloaded immediately & frustration arises. Moreover, in many cases there may be no access to the internet at all or it may cost too much for common families to use. Without stable internet connection it is impossible to provide quality online education. The shortage of digital devices also remains a considerable issue. Students living in rural areas do not have access to laptops, tablets, or even Smartphone’s & in many instances a single mobile phone needs to be used by multiple siblings. Lack of electricity creates barriers as well. In some remote villages electricity outages are frequent. Thus, taking classes on the Internet becomes quite problematic as well as charging Smartphone’s. A child may be interested in studies but there would be no electricity to help him/her get knowledge. There exist numerous infrastructural issues that hinder progress in using the benefits of modern technology. Besides in some areas people lack digital literacy. Many parents & even teachers cannot use the technologies necessary for taking online classes. Old people do not know how to help children study online by using apps. Moreover teachers need special training to teach online successfully. Without digital awareness & help the presence of digital technologies alone cannot make anything positive for education. It should be noted that personal interaction becomes impossible when attending classes online. Students do not have a chance to discuss things they cannot understand, ask questions & receive a punishment for some misbehavior.

To overcome from these challenges Government & Society have to work together. Internet infrastructure should be developed in remote areas. Smartphone’s & digital gadgets should be distributed to disadvantaged students. The teachers & schools require adequate digital training & public libraries & learning centers with internet connectivity can facilitate digital learning for village students. Digital learning is not all about technology; rather it is about giving equal chances to all children irrespective of their location. It would be wrong to confine a child’s career prospects based on his/her geographic location or economic status. Digital learning is a powerful tool that can uplift marginalized communities, disseminate information & create an educated society.

The writer is a Researcher & Strategist from J&K & can be reached at maajaazfaisal7860@gmail.com