The internet – or access to the internet – which seems to support global society, appears to be a key factor in enabling opportunities for children at an early age, but it also stays with them throughout their adult life. According to a recent UNICEF report and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) it is estimated that some 1.3 billion children between the ages of 3 and 17 (some 66% of children at this age) do not have access to the internet. There is an inextricable link between connectivity and GDP (gross domestic product): a “10% increase in school connectivity can increase the effective years of schooling for children by 0.6%, and GDP per capita by 1.1%”, having an impact way beyond the classroom, stretching to health and well-being. There are a number of factors that make up this benefit and which need to include “access to devices, the availability of relevant content, and the provision of support to teachers and students to effectively integrate technology into educational practice”. For students the access to learning materials online is a source of knowledge, and for teachers the access to assessment tools can assist in tailor pedagogical approaches accordingly through digital resources. Escudo Web has been playing its part in this new educational drive, with an offering – aptly called Learning Everywhere – that seeks to enable a digital education where there is no internet infrastructure, accelerating learning and helping develop children’s abilities and their advancement in later life. We are working with NGOs to help bring this advantage to the disadvantaged.
https://connectinglearners.economist.com/connecting-learners