Access to Education

It’s important for every student to reach their full potential. However, students need the support necessary to make academic achievement a possibility. To ensure every learner has the educational opportunities they need to succeed, schools and institutions are looking for ways to close access gaps in education –creating learning environments where all students can thrive.

Now, more than ever, academic environments are adopting pedagogy and strategies that center the student and differentiate their learning experiences. With modern learning methodologies such as competency-based education, human-centered design, and skills-based learning, academic environments are noticing positive effects. 

Today’s students have more focused, flexible, accessible, and tailored learning options. Still, there is a need for improvement as we welcome evolving just and accessible learning practices. Thanks to modern learning management systems and digital tools, access to education is easier than before. In this article, we’ll take a look at the importance of access to education and how technology can facilitate that. 

What is Access to Education?

Access to education means ensuring that every student has the support and opportunities they need to learn and succeed. It recognizes that students come from different circumstances and may require different resources to reach their goals. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, expanding access involves removing barriers and creating pathways that help more learners move forward. It's about opening doors and making sure no one is left behind.  

However, access to education is met with some challenges. Overcoming roadblocks, such as systematic barriers, is an ambitious effort but possible with collaboration and intention. This has motivated schools and institutions to take a deeper look at factors affecting their students. Factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, and geographical location impact the student's personal and academic lives. Learn more about the factors impacting today’s learners.

The Importance of Acess in Education

Access to education further shapes our communities and society as a whole. We strengthen your schools and workforce by providing learning opportunities to students of all backgrounds and talents. This contributes to a wide set of skills and abilities that benefit the whole academic ecosystem. But this starts in the classroom. Let’s take a look at how access to education benefits students and educators.  

When schools and institutions follow an accessible approach to learning, students benefit from tailored, personalized instruction. This gives them support and an overall sense of belonging. Whether students are learning in-person, remotely, or hybrid, it is important for them to feel comfortable and have a sense of well-being in their learning space. A recent study reports that psychological well-being has an 82% impact on student engagement. Even more so, having access to the learning resources they need also contributes to engagement and positive learning outcomes.  

To address imbalance in education, we must first understand students facing educational barriers, their challenges,

and what they need to succeed. Holistic approaches can help schools and institutions empathize with these populations and better assist them. Let’s take a look at prominent factors facing students. 

Socioeconomic: To better support these students, K-12 schools offer programs for reduced or free lunch to ensure no student goes hungry. Higher-ed institutions assist with financial aid, affordable meal plans, reduced housing costs, and cost-effective healthcare plans. 

Geographical Location: Location can impact a student's physical access to the educational resources they need. Students living in education deserts lack proximity to public, broad-access colleges or universities. Thanks to advancing technology in education, students can now access education online and remotely. 

Promoting Education for All in the Classroom

Educators play a crucial role in creating learning environments where every student has the opportunity to succeed. By adopting differentiated and personalized learning approaches, educators ensure every student can learn – further promoting equity in the classroom. Here’s a glance at what promoting equity in the classroom can look like

• Accessible Learning Materials
• Family and Community Partnership
• Differentiated Instruction 
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 

Access to Education and Technology

Technology continues to evolve modern learning, breaking down traditional educational barriers. Learning management systems and other digital tools allow students to access academic resources when they need them. With Canvas, educators can tailor their courses, adding the tools and resources that would best support their students. 

Edtech has facilitated a new era of academic relationships, allowing students to communicate and collaborate from anywhere. Online and remote learning spaces are now more accessible than ever and any student has the opportunity to learn. 

Although edtech has many benefits, there are still challenges with the digital divide and digital fluency. Understanding that today’s students need access to technology, many K-12 schools offer laptops, computer labs, or technology areas in the school media center. For higher education students, financial aid can assist with providing them with the technologies they need to learn. The campus library is another reliable resource.

Mobile learning further extends convenience and accessibility to students. With the Canvas mobile app, learners can track their learning and progress, quickly accessing course resources in the palm of their hands.

Supporting Access With Canvas

Accessible learning experiences are essential to the future of learning. Learn how you can support access and remove roadblocks in education with Canvas LMS and its supporting digital tools.