A Comparative Study of Digital Divide and Learning Outcomes between Urban and Rural Undergraduates

Abstract

Digital technology has become a part of the modern education systems and plays a prominent part in the way students are engaged in school and what they learn. The access to internet facilities, digital devices and technological resources, however, is unequal between rural and urban undergraduate students in developing countries such as Pakistan creating a digital gap between the two. The present study aimed to deepen the understanding of the impact of the digital divide on learning outcomes of the learners from rural and urban areas and of the key issues faced by the learners to access the Internet and literacy and involvement in digital activities. This type of research used is quantitative research, type of descriptive survey. The population studied was undergraduate students who were studying in the public universities. The total sample size was 245 students both from rural and urban area and the sampling technique used was random sampling. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire with 5-point Likert scale. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as frequencies, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation, by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings showed that there are significant disparities between rural and urban students' access to educational opportunities online and to digital technologies. Internet connectivity was higher among the urban students, as was the availability of smart phones and laptops, and their involvement in online learning activities, than among their rural counterparts. Results also showed that digital technologies have a positive impact on students' academic achievements, communication skills, research skills, and educational engagement. Rural students, however, experienced a range of issues such as low internet connectivity, electricity shortages, financial constraints, low access to digital devices, and low digital literacy which reduced their learning. The study found the digital divide to be a major factor influencing learning outcomes of undergraduate students and leading to educational inequalities between the rural and the urban.