Improving the impact of educational technologies on learning within low-income contexts

Design and implementation with information and communications technologies (ICTs) can transform how learning is supported in many ways. This paper explores opportunities for leveraging educational technologies in “Bottom of the Pyramid” contexts and the potential for improved design with an emphasis on learning equity. Drawing on evidence across low-income contexts, findings consider innovative tools that impact learning and education through effective practices tailored to individual, contextual and cultural needs. A key design feature within low-income contexts is the use of low-cost, sustainable interventions for implementation in educational settings with limited connectivity.

Improving progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal for Education (SDG4) will require technological innovation that supports learning and teaching, data collection, implementation and evaluation within the varied learning spaces of low-income contexts. Leveraging educational technologies to optimize learning processes and delivery will transform the quality of learning and teaching and advance progress toward learning equity.