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From Digital Divide to Digital Discovery: Re-thinking Online Learning and Interactions in Marginalized Communities

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Innovation Practices for Digital Transformation in the Global South

Part of the book series: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology ((IFIPAICT,volume 645))

Abstract

The digital divide presented between the Global South and North has been exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic causing unequal access to technologies in education, public services, and healthcare. Through an exploratory study in the northeastern region of Mexico, a marginalized community used a hyperlocal network to engage in creative Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) activities. The study uses a qualitative methodology with a reflective approach, informed by sociocultural and dialogic concepts. Data collection primarily involved semi-structured interviews, observations, focus groups, and collection of artifacts. The findings present a rich framework of sociocultural factors and capital knowledge from the community. From the study emerged participants’ meanings in three categories: i) the use of offline mobile learning, ii) the educational practices in the non-formal context, and iii) the dialogic opportunities created among participants. From this non-formal context of education experience emerged creative lessons in innovation, agency from the learners, and genuine involvement from the participants.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The fabrication laboratory (FabLab) was installed in 2019 in Monterrey, Mexico, to promote the ‘maker’ culture involving an agenda of cognitive and social justice through the implementation of a “platform for the democratization of educational practices through the inclusion of participants from different settings, countries and ages, collaborating in the achievement of common goals, while stimulating creative thinking, and strengthening the bonding with participants and their needs” (González-Nieto, et al., 2020, p. 1535).

  2. 2.

    This word refers to an informal saving method in which people provide money to a common pool with friends or colleagues. This pool, then, is rotated among the members of the “tanda” to receive the entire money given by all the members of the group. Tandas also serve as a short-term loan, as people can receive big amounts of money in a short period of time (Fundary, 2018, retrieved from https://medium.com/@fundary/tandas-and-the-informal-economy-of-mexico-4f3c80c1c7ce).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, México

    Lay-Wah Carolina Ching-Chiang, Juan Manuel Fernández-Cárdenas, Derek Jones & Alejandra Díaz de León

  2. The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK

    Nicole Lotz, Noé Abraham González-Nieto & Mark Gaved

  3. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City,, México

    Lay-Wah Carolina Ching-Chiang, Juan Manuel Fernández-Cárdenas, Nicole Lotz, Noé Abraham González-Nieto, Mark Gaved, Derek Jones, Alejandra Díaz de León & Rafael Machado

  4. Insitu, Monterrey, México

    Rafael Machado

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  1. Lay-Wah Carolina Ching-Chiang
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  3. Nicole Lotz
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  4. Noé Abraham González-Nieto
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Correspondence to Lay-Wah Carolina Ching-Chiang .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of West London, London, UK

    José Abdelnour-Nocera

  2. University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

    Elisha Ondieki Makori

  3. Esan University, Lima, Peru

    Jose Antonio Robles-Flores

  4. University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa

    Constance Bitso

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Ching-Chiang, LW.C. et al. (2022). From Digital Divide to Digital Discovery: Re-thinking Online Learning and Interactions in Marginalized Communities. In: Abdelnour-Nocera, J., Makori, E.O., Robles-Flores, J.A., Bitso, C. (eds) Innovation Practices for Digital Transformation in the Global South. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 645. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12825-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12825-7_3

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