Education disrupted - Global disparities in online learning mirror PISA findings Published: 15 April 2021 When schools shut down, many students around the world were shut out, as their education systems were ill-prepared for online learning. The OECD’s 2018 PISA report revealed wide disparities between countries and socio-economic groups on the availability of adequate technology and schools’ capacity to use digital tools to enhance learning. Andreas Schleicher
More devices, insufficient skills: Digital literacy gap adds to educational inequity in Germany Published: 15 April 2021 The Covid-19-related switch to online learning in German schools could exacerbate existing educational inequalities, due to wide variations in access and digital literacy at home. Julia Gerick
Data protection versus functionality: the dilemma of German schools Published: 15 April 2021 Is data protection an obstacle to innovation? And is its easing in favor of digital educational opportunities inevitable? On the contrary! Nikolai Horn, Philipp Otto
Quality, not speed, is what we need - A case for a sustainable transformation of digital education Published: 15 April 2021 German schools have been slower to embrace digital education than US schools over the past decade, due to concerns about the influence of commercial players and data protection. The Covid-19 pandemic has now significantly increased reform pressure in Germany. Sigrid Hartong
Tinkering with tech: How the pandemic exposed the flaws of digital education Published: 15 April 2021 Schools in the United States have placed a lot of faith into the possibilities of education technology for improving both access and learning outcomes. But the pandemic has revealed that most technology is used to replicate traditional school routines. Justin Reich
Privacy is key: Holding EdTech accountable Published: 15 April 2021 Schools made a quick pivot to online teaching in spring 2020 as the pandemic sent kids home to learn. But educators soon faced a host of data sharing issues, as classrooms moved to platforms neither designed for education nor in compliance with privacy laws. Joe Jerome
Digital classrooms: Transatlantic perspectives on lessons from the pandemic Published: 15 April 2021 Dossier The corona pandemic presented the U.S. and Germany with similar challenges. Schools and teachers struggled with issues of educational participation and privacy. What worked and what didn't? A dossier on experiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
