Page 38 - International Perspectives on Effective Teaching and Learning in Digital Education

Pedro Tadeu and Carlos Brigas

ing support are required for digital education to be really effective. So, the
community continues to explore this field, seeking to understand how best
to use digital tools for learning and teaching and to address the challenges
that arise (Teräs et al., ; Kivunja, 14).
Despite all the normal inherent complexities, several initiatives aim to link
the digital divide and enhance access and equity within the education system.
We could present some interesting examples. For instance, the ERASMUS+
program, a European Union (EU) initiative, that support education, training,
youth, and sport in Europe, it provides to over 4 million European Citizen the
opportunity to study, train, gain experience, and be a volunteer abroad. Sim-
ilarly, Horizon , another EU research and innovation program, had nearly
€8 billion of funding available during the last years (14 to ) to ensure
Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation, and
makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in deliver-
ing innovation. We can also present more interesting projects:

− The 'One Laptop per Child' initiative – this project aimed to provide
each student (developing countries) with a robust, low-cost, low-
-power, connected laptop. The goal was to create educational oppor-
tunities for the most disadvantaged children;
− The Khan Academy – A non-profit organisation that provides free onli-
ne materials and resources to support personalised education for lear-
ners of all ages (depending on the internet connection);
− Google's 'Project Loon' – A project that aimed to provide internet
access to rural and remote areas using high-altitude balloons placed
in the stratosphere to provide a signal in non-signal areas. It was a very
ambicious project;
− Microsoft's 'Airband Initiative' – This project had the goal to connect
broadband to rural communities in the United States over the last ye-
ars (another big investment);
− The 'Global Learning XPRIZE' – A competition that incentivised teams
to develop open-source, scalable software solutions to allow children
in developing countries to teach themselves basic reading, writing,
and arithmetic.

These examples, among many others, are efforts to connect the digital di-
vide and improve global access and equity in the educational system, from
primary to HE.

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