Inequalities in Digital Education: Rural-Urban and Socioeconomic Differences

Abstract

Inequalities based on income and economy and "social inequalities" that directly affect society are not well understood.Therefore, inequalities with different components are measured and studied at best. Social inequality; due to the development of new situations, events and problems, it creates a relatively new set of dimensions, expectations and results. Social inequality; Due to the development of new situations, events and problems, it creates a relatively new set of dimensions, expectations and results. New developments, enlargements and contractions experienced at global and national scale revealed that inequality in education should be discussed again. In this study, on the basis of rural-urban distinctions and socioeconomic differences, the inequalities that emerged in digital education during the Covid-19 pandemic were examined. Depending on these two distinctions, it is aimed to reveal the inequalities in the access and use of digital media, internet and information communication technologies (D-ICT) of university students who try to participate in distance education at home during the epidemic process. A total of 16 students selected from 3 different universities according to age, gender, place of residence, class and socioeconomic status were included in the study. In the research where qualitative method was applied, the data were obtained through in-depth interviews. Interview data were categorized and converted into themes using the Maxqda qualitative data analysis program. The categories and themes combined as a result of open, axial and selective coding were visualized. The individual and family characteristics of the participants, the environment and financial resources of schools, development, emancipation and acculturation factors interactively have effects on inequality, as well as rural-urban segregation and socioeconomic differentiation are evident in digital education inequality.