Speaker
Description
Andrew, A. E.
Delta State College of Education, Mosogar
eseoghene.avbenagha@descoem.edu.ng
Track: Digital Pedagogy and Teaching Innovation
The prevailing narrative of bridging the digital divide often focuses exclusively on providing devices and connectivity. This research challenges that device-centric model by positing that for the most marginalized rural communities in Africa, the primary barrier is not the device itself, but the lack of a supportive learning ecology. This study proposes and evaluates a "phygital" (physical + digital) hub model: a low-tech, high-touch community learning center that operates primarily offline, syncing only periodically via low-earth-orbit satellite or mobile mesh networks. The abstract outlines a quasi-experimental design comparing student outcomes in three rural villages in Malawi: one with standard internet-enabled tablets, one with no intervention, and one with a phygital hub. The hub features curated, pre-loaded digital content on solar-powered servers, accessed via simple devices, and crucially, a trained facilitator who provides high-touch human mediation. The research argues that "future-ready" cannot be synonymous with "always online." Instead, it reimagines the ecosystem as a resilient, hybrid space where high-quality digital resources are married to essential human interaction and mentorship. Findings anticipate that the phygital model will reduce the "digital dropout" caused by infrequent connectivity and technical frustration. This work redefines access not as the presence of a signal, but as the sustainable rhythm of knowledge transfer between the digital and the human world.