Using Technology to Foster Equitable Access and Diverse Learning Communities

Educators and learners worldwide turned to technology to continue teaching and learning during the pandemic. A partnership among research societies, the International Alliance to Advance Learning in a Digital Era, convened a public engagement event to highlight key lessons and practical issues for education policymakers and educators who want to create more inclusive learning environments and foster equitable access to learning opportunities using technology. The event interactively engaged more than 100 researchers, administrators, and policymakers. A key finding was that while the pandemic inadvertently deepened issues of equity and inclusion, it also demonstrated opportunities to use technology to foster access and diversity. The authors discuss these opportunities and raise questions that still need to be answered.