Access to digital technology does not necessarily improve digital literacy, Giga initiative’s case study

The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Giga initiative published a case study on the Plan Ceibal project, which has been operating since 2007 to provide children in primary and middle public school in Uruguay with access to a personal computer with free internet connection at school. The case study demonstrates that access to digital technologies does not necessarily ensure improvements to digital literacy. It should be combined with support to develop their digital skills and to help them use digital technology to enhance learning outcomes. Additionally, challenges can actually emanate from increased use of digital technology which should be addressed by policymakers, educators, and technology implementers alongside other challenges such as regulating screen time, online privacy and security, and cyberbullying.