The Reemergence of Digital Poverty in Secondary Education
Location
Influences on K-12 Student Achievement (Session 3 Breakouts)
Proposal Track
Research Project
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
Our current Covid-19 reality has placed every educational system under tremendous pressure. This pressure has manifest significant structural flaws in our technological infrastructure. The fluidity required to move from face to face instruction to virtual instruction and back again simply does not exist. Rather, we are sluggishly navigating a rather uncertain future. Many students are struggling to even meet the minimum requirements because of the lack of sufficient technology (hardware, software, and internet access). Digital poverty is a real phenomenon that many educational systems are unable to successfully manage. Families continue to not have the requisite technology for the tasks at hand. Unfortunately, this state of digital poverty does align with socio-economic status, the lack of familial educational attainment, and inclusion within transient populations.
This session will address the emergence of this phenomenon, and a review of current global research and strategies that are underway to address this serious problem.
Keywords
Digital Poverty, Transient Populations, Achievement Gap, First Generation
Professional Bio
John L. Mason is a champion and ambassador for student empowerment, whose passion is helping young people realize that “their dreams can become a reality”. Mason holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Government from Cornell University, a master’s degree in Instructional Design American Intercontinental University (AIU) and a Ph. D. in Educational Leadership from Mercer University. Dr. Mason currently teaches for Mercer University in the Master of Educational Leadership Program
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Mason, John L., "The Reemergence of Digital Poverty in Secondary Education" (2020). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 38.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2020/2020/38
The Reemergence of Digital Poverty in Secondary Education
Influences on K-12 Student Achievement (Session 3 Breakouts)
Our current Covid-19 reality has placed every educational system under tremendous pressure. This pressure has manifest significant structural flaws in our technological infrastructure. The fluidity required to move from face to face instruction to virtual instruction and back again simply does not exist. Rather, we are sluggishly navigating a rather uncertain future. Many students are struggling to even meet the minimum requirements because of the lack of sufficient technology (hardware, software, and internet access). Digital poverty is a real phenomenon that many educational systems are unable to successfully manage. Families continue to not have the requisite technology for the tasks at hand. Unfortunately, this state of digital poverty does align with socio-economic status, the lack of familial educational attainment, and inclusion within transient populations.
This session will address the emergence of this phenomenon, and a review of current global research and strategies that are underway to address this serious problem.
