A Model of Digital Equity: A Case Study of the Digital Tutoring Program in Taiwan

• In Event: 18.068 - Educational Technology State of the Field: Policy and Practice

Abstract

Promoting digital equity has become increasingly important as the digital divide continues to widen. The research in digital divide has shifted the focus from the gap in access to hardware/software to the gap in access to qualified teachers, relevant instructional content, and learning environments. The goal of this research is to examine the essential factors in the implementation of a digital equity initiative and the impacts on the lives of students. The study utilized a case study approach to interview participants in a government-sponsored E-Tutor Program in which students in remote areas received free one-to-one learning sessions through video-conferencing in Taiwan. The findings revealed three factors that were deemed important by the participants: companionship, improved academic learning, and increased confidence.

Authors

• C. Candace Chou, University of Saint Thomas

• Hsueh-Hua Chuang, National Sun Yat-Sen University

• Dai-Yun Wu, National Sun Yat-Sen University

• Tze-Han Lu

• Ji-Chyuang Yang, Cheng Shiu University of Science and Technology