The Application of Information and Communication Technologies on Digital Learning to Reduce the Digital Divide

Abstract

數位學習在近年來是一個熱門的題目，但是數位學習在目前仍未能大規模推行，造成此現象的主要原因之一是數位落差。數位學習需要有足夠的設備與技能才能夠參與，因為人有著教育程度、收入、家庭背景、習慣、地理位置等差異，造成一些人無法參與數位學習。另一方面，師資及數位教學內容的缺乏也對數位學習有影響。目前有不少國家針對數位落差的問題制訂相對應的國家政策，幫助建立數位科技所必須的基礎建設，增加大眾接觸與使用數位科技的機會，並架設線上的便民服務作示範，使大眾瞭解資通訊技術所能帶來的方便性。不過在現階段可供數位教學使用的數位內容在質與量都不足。廠商未大規模投入數位內容創作的原因包括了開放平台、編輯工具鏈、方便可普及的數位版權管理、支援行動行為及客製化系統等之缺乏。文中描述的幾個進行中的計畫針對上述的問題提出解決方案，降低數位落差的影響。這些計畫結合業界的參與將可吸引廠商投入數位內容的製作。

Digital learning is gaining a lot of attention in these few years. However, digital learning is still not yet widely adapted. One of the main reasons is due to the digital divide. Digital learning requires the learners to possess certain equipments and skills to participate. Due to the education level, income, generation, behavior, geographic location, etc., learners may not have the required equipments or skills or both to join digital learning. Moreover, insufficient professionalism and the lack of content also hinder the promotion of digital learning. Many nations have national policies to reduce the digital divide, mainly in establishing the necessary infrastructure such as network and computer to broaden the accessibility of digital technology, and deploying online government services to encourage the usage of the digital technology for public. One the other hand, the quality and quantity of the digital content for digital learning is still insufficient. The lack of an open platform, authoring tool chain, convenient digital right management mechanism, system supporting mobile behavior and customization, etc., are some sources of the problem. We will describe several ongoing projects that are aimed to solve or reduce these issues. Combined with the efforts from the industries, such as system integrator, chip manufacturer, and mobile communication vendor, these projects will help encouraging the industries to invest in the creation of digital content.