The social impact of eLearning: inclusive training for all

The digital age has ushered in a transformation of education, breaking down barriers to traditional learning and expanding educational opportunities for students around the world. eLearning, the practice of using technology to deliver educational content, has had a profound social impact, making education more accessible than ever.

In this article, we will explore the positive effects of eLearning for society, highlighting how it is revolutionizing education by promoting inclusiveness and equity in the training sector, traditionally characterized by high barriers to entry such as the prices of courses and the places where they are delivered (schools and universities in larger cities).

Why can elearning have a social impact?

Let's start by highlighting the social impact of eLearning by looking at the benefits it has brought to the sector.

Accessibility to education

One of the most relevant social impacts of eLearning is its ability to overcome geographical, economic and physical boundaries. With an Internet connection and a suitable device, anyone can access training content wherever they are in the world. This is especially important for people who are in remote locations or who may be physically unable to attend traditional classes. eLearning has opened doors for people who previously had limited access to education.

Democratize education

eLearning has the power to democratize education, leveling the playing field for all students. It offers cheap or even free access to high-quality educational materials and resources. Open online courses, like those offered by some platforms, have allowed millions of students to gain knowledge and skills that were once only available through expensive schools.

Personalized learning experiences

eLearning platforms increasingly use adaptive technologies that adapt content to the needs and pace of individual students. This personalization means that education does not use a single training model for students with different characteristics and needs, but can adapt to differences between students, making education more inclusive for different learning styles and abilities . Everyone, regardless of learning speed or preferences, can find a path that suits them.

Inclusivity for all ages

eLearning is not just limited to young learners, it is aimed at learners of all ages, from young children to pensioners. Seniors can engage in lifelong learning, while professionals can continue their education without leaving their jobs. This inclusiveness transcends generational boundaries, creating a learning environment that welcomes all.

Closing the global skills gap

One of the social impacts of eLearning is its role in bridging the global skills gap. As industries evolve and require new skills, eLearning offers an accessible means for individuals to upskill or reskill. This not only benefits individuals in their careers, but also contributes to the development of a highly skilled and adaptable workforce.

Reduce socio-economic disparities

While socioeconomic disparities in access to technology and the Internet still exist, eLearning initiatives often aim to reduce them. Programs and organizations work to provide technology and connectivity to underserved communities, helping to break down barriers and give a chance to those who might otherwise be left behind.

Cases that testify to the social impact of eLearning

We have seen the reasons why eLearning can have a social impact, now let's try to understand if these advantages can be transformed into action and have a concrete impact. To do this, we look at some of the most famous eLearning cases that have or have had a strong social impact.

Case 1: School in the Cloud - Sugata Mitra's "Hole in the Wall".

In the early 2000s, Indian professor Sugata Mitra conducted an experiment known as "Hole in the Wall". The experiment consisted of placing a computer on a wall in a huge suburban neighborhood of Delhi, India, where numerous young people and children lived in conditions of extreme poverty.

The experiment required that the computer be visible from the street and available to anyone passing by. It was equipped with access to the internet and a number of programs that could be used, but no instructions were provided for their use. As soon as it was installed, the computer attracted the attention of many children and the teacher observed how they, without any previous exposure to computers or the English language, learned to use it. Six months after installation, the kids knew how to use the programs pre-installed on the computer and had perfectly understood how to do research and surf the web.

From this experiment was born the concept of "School in the Cloud", in which self-organised learning environments, supported by technology, are created in remote and underserved areas. Mitra's work has shown that eLearning can bring education to places where it was previously scarce.

Case 2: The One Laptop per Child (OLPC) program in Peru

The OLPC program in Peru was launched in 2008 and was part of a global project that involved 42 countries and distributed more than 2 million PCs in rural and disadvantaged areas. These projects received huge media attention in the early 2000s, so much so that many large companies announced their participation.

The media attention was accompanied by the curiosity of experts and researchers to evaluate the social impact of eLearning. This is because for the first time it was possible to collect data about the widespread opinion that access to a computer can have a positive impact for people who do not have access to educational content.

The project in Peru was one of the largest and for this reason it was the main object of research. In this project, PCs were preloaded with educational content and students used them to supplement classroom learning. The results of this initiative have started a very heated debate because, as the authors say, although "it resulted in a substantial increase in computer use both at school and at home, no effects on test results were found in mathematics and language. However, some positive effects on general cognitive abilities have been found."

Experts are divided on the topic, with many believing that the way the results were collected caused the findings to be meaningless. Regardless of the heated debate among experts, everyone agrees that the importance of this project lies in having aroused great curiosity about the social impact in public opinion, in the communities of experts and researchers and in the eLearning industry. of eLearning.

Case 3: The global reach of Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a non-profit organization that aims to offer free, quality education to anyone, wherever they are. Khan Academy offers a wide range of free educational content and has changed the game in the world of eLearning. The reason lies in having been the first organization to set itself the goal of offering free, quality education to anyone thanks to eLearning. The platform's accessible video lessons and interactive exercises have reached students in underserved communities around the world. Additionally, with content available in multiple languages, Khan Academy helps overcome language barriers and offers resources that allow students to learn at their own pace. This project has received a great deal of attention, so much so that people such as Elon Musk and philanthropic bodies such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, together with IT giants such as Google are among those who have donated to the project.

Case 4: The Digital School project in Kenya

In Kenya, the Digital School Project (DSP) was launched to help a national program that aims to introduce digital learning into primary schools across the country. The DSP provided over 400 computers and teacher aids and impacted 6,000 students from the most disadvantaged communities in the national program. The initiative involves not only the distribution of technological tools to students but also the development of digital content aligned with school programmes. The project is improving access to educational resources and incorporating interactive and engaging materials, and has not only improved learning outcomes but also promoted a deeper interest in education among students.

This project is still ongoing and has the following objectives:

•  Embracing training, support connections and learning in Kenya's education network;    sponsor projects in which training centers build the capacity of poorer schools to improve educational inequalities.
•  Help thousands of students in Kenya gain competitive skills, access resources and  increase the career opportunities available to them.
•  Invest in and support local secondary schools, which are burdened by higher levels of student overpopulation.

Conclusions

To conclude, we can say that eLearning is a powerful tool with a profound social impact. It has made education more accessible, inclusive and equitable, ensuring that learning opportunities are no longer limited by location, age or financial resources.

By reaching students around the world, democratizing education and providing tailored learning experiences, eLearning is transforming the education landscape, offering hope for a more accessible and equal future.

Through real-life cases such as Sugata Mitra's "Hole in the Wall", the OLPC program in Peru, Khan Academy and the Digital School Project in Kenya, we can see how technology is breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for people who up to a few years ago they did not have access to these resources. These initiatives have demonstrated that eLearning has the potential to deliver quality education and provide the tools to pave the way for a brighter future. As technology advances, we can look forward to increasingly innovative eLearning solutions that will further transform education for the better in underserved communities around the world.