Participate 3- Accessing Digital Learning Communities




As wonderful as the internet is, as many opportunities that the internet provides our society, there are many barriers to the internet. The main barriers that might impede students' opportunities to access digital learning include access and ability.

Although we live in a world that has wireless networks everywhere, a world were some of our simplest devices also have internet capability, there are people who do not have enough access to the internet to fully engage in digital learning due to socio-economic and regional limitations. There are still places in the United States that do not have access to the internet. Broadband connection within communities is very important to a persons ability to access learning online. Not only does lack of broadband connection limit a student's ability to access digital learning, but this lack of access also impedes on that student's digital literacy.

Students with disabilities also have a world of trouble when it comes to accessing even the most basic aspects of digital learning. For students with disabilities reading a screen or watching a video can be a major difficulty. Visual impairment, dyslexia, hearing impairment, physical impairment, as well as specific learning disabilities can hinder a student from receiving the fair and appropriate education that they are entitled to simply because they cannot access digital tools.

These barriers will never go away indefinitely. There will always be issues of access and ability when it comes to digital learning, however, with information, training, technical support, and activism there is a way to eliminate these barriers as they exist in the present. Students with disabilities need to be provided with digital accommodations so that they are able to access the the internet. Teachers need to be trained so that they know how to provide their students with an equitable learning environment. Policy makers and activists need to work together to create ways to ensure that students can operate around these barriers as well as ways to enhance our nation's broadband capabilities. 


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