Arkansas Governor, Common Sense Founder and Coursera CEO Discuss Digital Divide, School Reopening With Axios

During the months of February and March, as the coronavirus began to spread throughout the United States, schools across the nation made the abrupt decision to shut down and quickly implemented plans for online learning. This rapid transition exposed the preexisting disparities within the education system, such as unequal access to the internet and high-quality learning materials.

In a series of virtual interviews hosted by the news site Axios, three education leaders discussed the evolving crisis and its impact on education. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, and Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, engaged in 30-minute conversations with Axios cities correspondent Kim Hart. The topics covered ranged from strategies to bridge the digital divide, the future of online learning, and the timeline for reopening schools.

Axios cities correspondent Kim Hart noted, "The transition to virtual learning happened so abruptly that teachers had to quickly devise plans and piece things together. Now is the time to step back and figure out how to prepare for the upcoming fall semester. Many states are grappling with the reality that they may not be able to reopen schools as planned due to the challenges posed by the current circumstances, while also trying to address the issue of learning loss during the summer."

Highlights from the event, which was sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation, include insights from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. Governor Hutchinson, a Republican, revealed that he and his wife have been assisting their grandchild with remote learning during this crisis. He emphasized that parental or guardian involvement is crucial, particularly for younger children who are unfamiliar with online learning. Hutchinson has mandated that schools remain closed for the rest of the academic year.

Expressing concern for the digital divide, Hutchinson, who has been advocating for coding lessons and improved computer education in Arkansas schools, acknowledged that many families in his state still lack access to broadband internet at home. As a temporary solution, the state has been utilizing public television to provide instructional content to families residing in remote areas. Additionally, Arkansas is working on expanding internet access expeditiously. Hutchinson stated, "We are making investments and expediting the development of broadband connectivity throughout Arkansas to bridge the digital divide. It will take time, but we are dedicating state resources and accessing federal funding to expedite this process." He also mentioned that Arkansas intends to create summer learning programs using state and federal funds, although the mode of instruction (in-person or online) is yet to be determined.

Governor Hutchinson expressed optimism about reopening schools in the fall, but acknowledged that the situation is fluid and subject to change. He suggested that if there is a resurgence of the virus, improved testing and contact tracing would enable a less severe shutdown compared to the one experienced in the spring. "When it comes to our schools, our plan is to resume full activities. However, in the event of a resurgence, I hope that we will be able to respond like we do during flu season. We may need to close for a few days, but then we can reopen. We can manage cases within the student body or the community, but we want to continue our education programs in the fall, even if the virus resurfaces," Hutchinson explained.

Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, expressed that the current crisis could serve as a catalyst for bridging the digital divide, also known as the homework gap, which affects approximately 12 million students who lack internet access at home. A poll conducted by Common Sense and Survey Monkey in early April revealed that over half of teenagers are concerned about falling behind academically. Steyer’s organization has collaborated with numerous technology and education companies to create WideOpenSchool.org, a website that provides educational content and activities to support students, teachers, and families during the school closures. Steyer’s next concern is ensuring that all students have access to this valuable resource.

"There is a significant opportunity for corporations to demonstrate their commitment to philanthropy and make a positive impact during this epidemic. Moreover, by doing so, they have the potential to attract new customers in the long run," he expressed. "This moment presents a tremendous chance for philanthropic efforts. It also provides corporations with the opportunity to contribute, step up, and assist in closing the digital divide once and for all."

Coursera CEO, Jeff Maggioncalda, emphasized that the swift shift to online learning that many students and teachers experienced this year was a result of a gradual process that had been underway for about a decade. He further noted that online learning was already gaining popularity well before the emergence of COVID-19.

Maggioncalda leads Coursera, an educational platform established in 2012 that offers close to 4,000 online courses. These courses can either be taken for a nominal fee to earn degrees or taken for free without receiving credit. Due to the coronavirus, Coursera announced in March that it would collaborate with colleges, universities, and high schools to provide free online classes to their students while campuses remained closed. Within a span of five weeks, over 400,000 students had enrolled in more than 1.4 million courses.

Additionally, Coursera is partnering with states to develop the Workforce Recovery Initiative, enabling unemployed individuals to take courses and acquire new skills for future employment opportunities. Simultaneously, the company has witnessed a surge in interest for teaching courses, particularly in virtual education.

Maggioncalda stated, "I think people are starting to realize that we have collectively gained valuable knowledge on how to effectively deliver online learning." Furthermore, at the higher education level, he expressed concern about high school seniors potentially opting out of attending college due to the disruption caused by the pandemic. Similarly, current college students might take a break from their studies. In such cases, Coursera could play a pivotal role in ensuring these students continue their education.

"We are optimistic that providing online courses to students means that even if they choose not to go to a physical campus, they can continue their studies. And they have the option to do it for free or at a very low cost," he added.

Please note that the Walton Family Foundation provides financial support to .