Page 287 - IJET_July2021_final

Review Article

Digital Inclusion in Education: Mapping and Management

Biswajit Behera
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Central University of Punjab,
Bathinda, Punjab, Email: biswajit70behera@gmail.com

Abstract

Digital technologies have an impact on transforming learning and literacy in combination
with other social and economic factors. This impact implies future complexities in
relation to digital inclusion. Digital inclusion in education is understood as a blend of
issues on digital literacy, digital skill, and the digital divide. In this paper, mapping and
management of issues of digital inclusion in education are discussed. Reviews related
to access to technology and outcomes of the internet and technology used to obtain
the skills are discussed to understand the grounds of digital inclusion. Digital-related
determinants such as ICT experience, ICT use, and ICT training are mostly covered
in 21st-century digital skills studies. Mapping of digital inclusion is strongly related
to socioeconomic background, race, and gender as one dimension, the gap between
capacities, abilities among low and high educated students as second dimension and
the differences in outputs among students in terms of access, usage, motivation, and
skills as the third dimension. Management of digital inclusion needs to be undertaken
on why students are not able to evaluate and integrate digital information effectively,
to critically judge the suitability of a large amount of information online, to understand
the ethical and social usage of information, to interpret the reference to a paper and
journal, to search databases effectively, to determine the validity of the information
found online and understanding copyright issues.

Keywords: Digital literacy, Digital Skills, Digital Divide, and Digital Inclusion

Introduction focus is on making technology central to
enabling change (NDLM, 2019).
Technology has revolutionised the way
we work & think and give opportunities In this technologically loaded world,
to access the world. The power of students need to acquire more skills,
technology is being experienced by adaptability to prepare them for
the increasing number of educators. the future workplace. So, the future
The increase of digitalisation in its of education is digital. The rapid
various spheres like information, diffusion of new technologies impacts
communication, social relations, the nature of learning and literacy.
entertainment, education, and economy Digital technologies have an impact
is producing what several authors have on transforming learning and literacy.
called ‘industrial revolution’ (Clark, Technology transforms learning and
2005). There is a rapid growth of literacy not only by itself but also in
industry due to digital interference. The combination with other social and

Indian Journal of Educational Technology 277
Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2021