Digital divide in post primary schools

This research study developed curricular specific open educational resources for the teaching of poetry at Junior Cycle in Irish post-primary schools. It aimed to capture the collaborative design and development process used in the development of the digital resources and describe and evaluate the implementation of the resources by teachers in different educational contexts. The research employed a case study approach as it was seen as the most suitable methodological approach to capture the richness of the design and implementation of the resource, which was developed in collaboration with six practicing teachers and implemented in three different schools with various classroom settings. Through the use of semi-structured teachers interviews, student questionnaires and classroom observations the research methodology employed aimed to capture the richness of the experience from the participants’ perspective. The study found that the resource was adopted in very different ways across the participating schools. The study raises questions about the use of digital resources in schools and the possible emergence of a second digital divide, which is not the use of the technology and the extent to which it is used in a constructive and meaningful way to enhance the students learning experience