Selwyn (2021) explores both sides of the coin with edtech as an environmental solution and an environment burden. The major concerns include our current expectation that digital resources are always on and always available, and to achieve this level of efficiency, the unsustainable amount of energy and resources required. The article urges us to consider leaner ways of tech use, recycling and refurbishing programs in schools, and adapting our digital priorities towards essential, shared, and inclusive use. However, what resources do we need to make the transition to a greener lifestyle and how many in our population can afford the switch?
With increasing integration of edtech (green or not), students are confronted with growing expectations of online learning. The advance of tech integration in schools could be a rocket shooting upwards with its most valued contents at its core. As it gains elevation, its outer pieces are left behind in its wake and only those with the ability to provide sufficient return on investment are included in the latter part of the journey. The core of the rocket that reaches its destination would be the privileged learner market (Educause, 2021). The debris left behind are the learners considered less profitable or unable to afford the experience (Educause, 2020). As a result, we are left with scenarios depicting a widening socioeconomic gap and digital divide as families struggle to optimize their lifestyles towards the latest technology, and put their children through the highest quality education they can afford (Macgilchrist et al., 2020; Singh & Maughan, 2014).
While the growing digital divide across the socioeconomic spectrum is alarming, what happens to the populations belonging to the middle income class? To save on the costs of living in residence, they may attend a local institution so they can commute to campus if their class is not offered online (Frenette, 2007). Their annual household income may place them outside the eligibility guidelines for needs-based financial aid, and if tuition rates outpace inflation rates as described in the 2020 Educause Horizon Report, how do they afford the green tech transition and what happens if they cannot?
References
Educause (2020, March 2). 2020 Educause Horizon Report, Teaching and Learning Edition. https://library.educause.edu/resources/2020/3/2020-educause-horizon-report-teaching-and-learning-edition
Educause (2021, April 26). 2021 Educause Horizon Report, Teaching and Learning Edition. https://library.educause.edu/resources/2021/4/2021-educause-horizon-report-teaching-and-learning-edition
Frenette, M. (2007). Why Are Youth from Lower-income Families Less Likely to Attend University? Evidence from Academic Abilities, Parental Influences, and Financial Constraints. Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11f0019m/11f0019m2007295-eng.pdf
Macgilchrist, F., Allert, H., & Bruch, A. (2020). Students and society in the 2020s. Three future ‘histories’ of education and technology. Learning, Media and Technology, 45(1), 76-89. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2019.1656235
Selwyn, N. (2021). Ed-Tech Within Limits: Anticipating educational technology in times of environmental crisis. E-Learning and Digital Media, 18(5), 496-510. https://doi.org/10.1177/20427530211022951
Singh, S. S., & Maughan, T. (2014, June 18). The future of ed tech is here, it’s just not evenly distributed. Medium. https://medium.com/futures-exchange/the-future-of-ed-tech-is-here-its-just-not-evenly-distributed-210778a423d7
Thank you for this post, Jolee. This background is both interesting and important, and you’ve connected a lot of threads to paint a picture of a potential future. Well done!
One aspect that’s unclear to me is the crux of your topic. So far, this reads to me like exploratory writing with the goal of landing on a topic. There’s nothing wrong with it – sometimes we need to write our thoughts to clarify what we’re thinking. I do that a lot! So, what I’m seeing here is your efforts to land on the exact topic. Is the core of the topic “how will the middle class afford higher education?” If that’s the question, what are some of the topics surrounding it? Reasons for lack of affordability? Solutions? Are those some of the paragraphs in an essay?
You don’t need to answer my questions, but keep them in mind as you’re continuing working on this!
Interesting thoughts on how financial discrepancy can impact one’s ability to take advantage of education. Do you think this is a new concept? Or does this exist in the traditional education system as well? I wonder if we will see more divide going forward as the less advantaged may slip further behind in the technology realm?
Interesting topic for sure. I wonder if this discrepancy is present in today’s education system already with the more fortunate having access to private schools, more opportunities? It will be interesting to see if the divide continues as the education system leans more on the digital tools.
Very interesting Jolee. “The core of the rocket that reaches its destination would be the privileged learner market.” This is so true. I will be taking a deeper look at Educause, 2021 as this could help me better develop my ideas. Thank you for sharing.
Sam