Towards Equitable Online Learning: Gender, SES, Prior Experience, and Digital Literacy in Rural China

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 9:45 am - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Elevating Student Voices in Online Learning Environments

Abstract

This study investigates junior secondary students’ online learning experiences in a remote area of Hubei Province, China, with a focus on educational equity and quality. Adopting a pragmatist paradigm and a quantitative research design, it examines whether students’ experiences with Online Live Broadcasting Massive Classes (OLBMC) differ by gender, socioeconomic status, prior online learning experience, and digital literacy. Grounded in a context-sensitive conceptual framework, the study addresses an understudied population in rural China. Findings aim to inform both theory and practice by providing insights into students’ social interaction, engagement, satisfaction, and acceptance of e-learning. This research contributes to global discussions on how e-learning can promote equitable and high-quality education in marginalized contexts.

Author

• Fengjiao Liu, University of Bristol