Bridging the digital divide: an ethnographic investigation to develop a digitalised interface to educate learners within vulnerable communities

Abstract

“The evidence is clear: early investments in children’s health, education, and development have benefits that compound throughout the child’s lifetime, for their future children, and society as a whole” (The Lancet , 2020). The aim of this mini-dissertation is to investigate the vulnerable community of Plastic View to enable development of a contextually relevant design proposal through a human-centred approach. Through extensive on-site investigations using a human-centred design approach to study Plastic View, it was found that learner education was impacted by socio-economic circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic enlarged the existing gap of providing learners who live in vulnerable communities with a right to education. Conversely, digital technology is investigated to bridge digital inclusivity, and offers a platform for educational and social development through merging existing indigenous learning practices by creating a versatile design solution. By contextually and theoretically analysing research and on-site informants a design solution was achieved that contextually applies sustainable building practice that creates an approach for future informal community educational development.