“Closing the digital gap is one of the most critical challenges of our time”

Curtiss Barnes is the CEO of 1EdTech, a non-profit consortium of educators and suppliers committed to building an open, trusted, and innovative digital learning ecosystem. Curtiss has over 30 years of experience in the education industry and expertise in a broad range of enterprise and instructional systems supporting education’s core missions. He has held roles at universities, technology start-ups, large enterprise businesses, and courseware and publishing companies. Curtiss is a passionate believer in the power of technology to transform businesses and of education to transform lives and society. Curtiss holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Clark University.

This is the second part of our interview with him during Learning Impact Europe 2024, the conference hosted by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) from October 9 to 11, in which he participated with the opening address in his position as the new CEO of 1EdTech.

What do you think is the key to accelerating the closing of the digital gap? Could collaboration between governments and companies be a solution?

Closing the digital gap is one of the most critical challenges of our time, especially as access to technology becomes increasingly central to education, employment, and economic and social mobility. To accelerate the process, collaboration between governments, companies, and other key stakeholders is essential. The digital divide is a multifaceted issue that requires a holistic and collaborative approach to ensure equitable access to digital tools, skills, and infrastructure.

• Infrastructure investment: The first step toward closing the digital gap is providing universal access to the internet and technology. In many regions, especially rural or underserved areas, the necessary infrastructure simply doesn’t exist. Governments and non-government organizations (NGOs) play a crucial role in creating the regulatory and policy environment that encourages infrastructure development, while private companies and academic institutions bring innovation, expertise, and capital to these efforts.

• Affordable access to devices and connectivity: While infrastructure is critical, ensuring that individuals have affordable access to devices and internet connectivity is equally important. Here, collaboration between governments and companies can yield innovative solutions, such as subsidized devices, low-cost internet packages, or government-supported programmes to distribute technology in underserved communities. Japan is a really good example where they have a national one-to-one device project called GIGA School in their schools (K12), which leverages 1EdTech’s OneRoster and LTI standards. I am excited that 1EdTech is also working with the ecosystem on other projects to bring innovative business models that offer affordable solutions tailored for underserved market segments in higher education as well as schools.

• Digital literacy and skills development: Closing the digital gap is not only about providing access to technology but also ensuring that people have the skills to use it effectively. Governments can work with educational institutions and the private sector to implement digital literacy programmes that equip individuals with the skills they need to participate fully in the digital economy.

• Inclusive content and platforms: One of the key aspects of closing the digital gap is making sure that the content and platforms available are inclusive and accessible to diverse populations. This includes supporting accessibility standards, such as those developed by 1EdTech and W3C, which ensure that educational tools are usable by all learners, including those with disabilities. Governments can encourage the adoption of these standards through policy and funding, while companies can ensure their platforms adhere to these guidelines.

• Fostering innovation through policy and regulation: Governments have a pivotal role in shaping the policy environment to support innovation and equitable access. This includes adopting forward-thinking policies that incentivize investment in underserved areas, encouraging the development of inclusive technology, and ensuring that companies adhere to data privacy standards, such as GDPR in Europe. At the same time, companies can work closely with governments to develop technologies that are aligned with these policies, ensuring that innovation benefits all, not just a few.

All of this requires a sustained, consistent engagement and commitment across the ecosystem. 1EdTech is in a great position to provide a platform for this collaboration and help solve ever bigger opportunities in Europe and across the world.

How do you envision the future of education?

I have dedicated my whole career to education and education technology. I’m personally driven by the opportunity to leverage technology to improve education, peoples’ lives, and our global society. I’ve seen first-hand how the sector has evolved, and it’s clear to me that the future of education will be more personalized, connected, and accessible than ever before. But what excites me most about the future of education is not just the new technologies we will see, but the ways in which these advancements will empower learners and educators, breaking down barriers that have long existed.

• Personalized and adaptive learning: Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and data analytics, we are moving toward learning environments where content, pacing, and pathways are tailored to the individual.

• Learner agency and flexibility: Learners will have greater agency over their own educational journeys. With the growth of microcredentials and lifelong learning opportunities, individuals will have the flexibility to build their skills continuously, outside of traditional degree structures.

• Global, connected classrooms: I also see the future of education becoming far more globally connected. The boundaries of the classroom are already dissolving thanks to online learning platforms and virtual collaboration tools. In the coming years, students will increasingly learn from and with peers from around the world, gaining not just content knowledge, but also the cross-cultural competencies that are essential in an interconnected world.

• Emphasis on skills and competencies: The future of education will place a much greater emphasis on skills and competencies rather than just degrees. Employers are already moving toward valuing demonstrable skills over formal qualifications, and education systems will need to adapt to this reality.

• Equity and inclusion through technology: Perhaps most importantly, we are seeing progress toward a future where technology helps close the equity gap in education. As we continue to advance, we must ensure that the benefits of new technologies reach all learners, including those in underserved communities.

• Human connection and the role of educators: Despite all the advances in technology, I believe the human element of education will be more important than ever. Educators will continue to be at the heart of the learning experience, acting as mentors, guides, and facilitators. In the future, teachers will have access to better tools to support their work, allowing them to focus more on what they do best – connecting with students, fostering curiosity, and cultivating critical thinking. Technology will serve as an enabler, not a replacement, enhancing the role of educators rather than diminishing it.

I am bullish about the future of education, and I’m delighted to be leading an organization that will continue to make outsized contributions to the entire sector!

Conclusions to Part 2 from the eLinC’s Observatory of Educational trends and innovation

Access to education and access to technology are closely related nowadays and need multi-agent collaboration. Different layers of investment are required to close the multiple digital gaps, involving not only infrastructure but also ICT skills. In relation to the future envisioned by Barnes, we would especially focus on the idea of keeping and fostering the human connection, with educators playing a crucial role in the education process, along with students’ performance and social collaboration with peers, to not only maintain the social components of enriched learning but make them flourish.