Bridging the Digital Divide and Technology Professional Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Developing Countries

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 presents unprecedented challenges around the world. Schools, hospitals, government offices, and even transportation (both domestic and international) were put to closure. While developed countries used their monetary and technology resources to support their education systems during this trying time, digital divide is widely evident in the developing countries, which has posed a threat to the fragile educational systems across these countries. This study aimed at exploring technology professional development available to faculty during COVID-19 in the developing countries. Findings revealed a critical issue of concern, as many developing countries in Africa were not able to keep up with the impact of pandemic, which rendered universities and colleges closed. In the few countries where they could keep open, several technology professional developments were provided to educators before and during the pandemic to prepare them to navigate through virtual/remote instruction.