Bridging the digital divide: promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world
Online learning has the potential to enhance open and equitable access to medical education resources globally. Conversely, there are also concerns that it can perpetuate and exacerbate digital inequalities between developed (global North) and developing (global South) countries. In this article, we...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/178946 |
| _version_ | 1824456558223818752 |
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| author | Han, Siew Ping Kumwenda, Ben |
| author2 | Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) |
| author_facet | Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) Han, Siew Ping Kumwenda, Ben |
| author_sort | Han, Siew Ping |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Online learning has the potential to enhance open and equitable access to medical education resources globally. Conversely, there are also concerns that it can perpetuate and exacerbate digital inequalities between developed (global North) and developing (global South) countries. In this article, we describe the historical lack of representation of the global South in the design of online medical education, as well as the resulting consequences and potential solutions. We compare the Northern and Southern views of online learning in medical education and identify the different types of barriers to its adoption. We describe how socioeconomic disparities and the historical dominance of the global North over the global South have led to systemic digital inequalities in the design and implementation of online learning in education generally, and in medical education particularly. The lack of representation of global South voices hinders the development of digital learning solutions relevant to local contexts, therefore limiting their effectiveness and sustainability. Thus, we propose approaches to build more equitable partnerships by soliciting local input and local expertise. Further, we discuss the need to maintain local relevance while setting global standards. Overall, we hope to inform and guide the development of more equitable and accessible online education training for a diverse global population. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-19T03:56:00Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/178946 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-19T03:56:00Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1789462024-07-11T07:42:02Z Bridging the digital divide: promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world Han, Siew Ping Kumwenda, Ben Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Digital divide E-learning Online learning has the potential to enhance open and equitable access to medical education resources globally. Conversely, there are also concerns that it can perpetuate and exacerbate digital inequalities between developed (global North) and developing (global South) countries. In this article, we describe the historical lack of representation of the global South in the design of online medical education, as well as the resulting consequences and potential solutions. We compare the Northern and Southern views of online learning in medical education and identify the different types of barriers to its adoption. We describe how socioeconomic disparities and the historical dominance of the global North over the global South have led to systemic digital inequalities in the design and implementation of online learning in education generally, and in medical education particularly. The lack of representation of global South voices hinders the development of digital learning solutions relevant to local contexts, therefore limiting their effectiveness and sustainability. Thus, we propose approaches to build more equitable partnerships by soliciting local input and local expertise. Further, we discuss the need to maintain local relevance while setting global standards. Overall, we hope to inform and guide the development of more equitable and accessible online education training for a diverse global population. 2024-07-11T07:42:02Z 2024-07-11T07:42:02Z 2024 Journal Article Han, S. P. & Kumwenda, B. (2024). Bridging the digital divide: promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world. Medical Education. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/medu.15455 0308-0110 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/178946 10.1111/medu.15455 38860836 2-s2.0-85195589407 en Medical Education © 2024 Association for the Study of Medical Education and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved. |
| spellingShingle | Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Digital divide E-learning Han, Siew Ping Kumwenda, Ben Bridging the digital divide: promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world |
| title | Bridging the digital divide: promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world |
| title_full | Bridging the digital divide: promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world |
| title_fullStr | Bridging the digital divide: promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bridging the digital divide: promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world |
| title_short | Bridging the digital divide: promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world |
| title_sort | bridging the digital divide promoting equal access to online learning for health professions in an unequal world |
| topic | Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Digital divide E-learning |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/178946 |
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