The COVID-19 outbreak was the opposite of normal; schools, workplaces, and restaurants were closed as the virus spread across the nation. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders turned daily life upside down. Technology, however, returned some sense of normality and allowed people to continue their daily routines. These screens and machines allowed individuals to work, learn, stay entertained, socialize, and even attend doctor appointments via telemedicine. While technology was vital in completing daily tasks, not everyone has had access to it. The COVID-19 outbreak magnified the tech divide and made required activities, like schooling, harder or impossible for people without access to technology.
According to reports by Education Week, over 55 million students were affected by school closures in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, and most had to rely on technology to finish the school year. This reliance exacerbated the tech divide in the U.S. because students without access to devices or the internet could not participate in remote learning. Reports by the Center on Reinventing Public Education show that one in five students in the U.S. lacks access to an adequate internet connection at home or rely on public WiFi, and three in ten students only have a cellphone to complete their schoolwork. While the majority of students – around 86% – have access to devices, the remaining 14% still represents a whopping eight million students without access to technology. This tech problem is worse for students in low-income households or urban communities. For example, around 40% of lower-income students are deprived of a stable internet connection or devices. The school closures during COVID-19 have revealed the severe technological disparity that exists in the U.S.
Even with access to technology, there were still many problems present in online schooling. For such unprecedented times, online learning was a practical solution, but GA students encountered issues in our virtual experience. For instance, unstable internet connections made logging onto Zoom difficult sometimes, and power outages during stormy weather made online schooling nearly impossible. Apart from technological difficulties, many students also found it tiring to sit in front of a screen for the entire school day. In some cases, it was harder for students to pay attention and easier to become distracted. Despite these issues, Virtual GA offered a sense of normality by allowing students to interact with classmates and learn.
Technology also made a positive social impact on many people during this pandemic. With tons of workplaces shutting down, technology made it possible for people to work from home and make a living. According to the National Public Radio, before the pandemic, 4% of adults worked at least partially from home; during the pandemic, this number surged to more than 34%. Besides school and work, technology also made it possible to connect with others through texting, video chat, and social media. In fact, more than half of social media users in the U.S. reported spending more time on social media than before the pandemic. Plus, videogames and streaming services entertained people throughout quarantine. Technology allowed people to relieve their boredom while staying home.
The pandemic and our reliance on technology showed us what we take for granted and how lucky we are. Before COVID-19, it may not have been as clear how lucky we are to have shelter, clothing, food, and technology. The pandemic highlighted this divide and made inequalities -especially in online learning- a leading issue.
Sources:
https://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/map-coronavirus-and-school-closures.html
https://www.crpe.org/thelens/digital-divide-among-students-during-covid-19-who-has-access-who-doesnt
https://www.npr.org/2020/05/08/852527736/covid-19-forces-more-people-to-work-from-home-hows-it-going
Image: https://www.army.mil/article/235049/learning_continues_for_dod_school_system_students_despite_covid_19_restrictions