Minimizing The Gap: Equal Opportunities On Information Access

Most of us might have heard our parents say that “Education is our most prized possession” and experience itself has taught us that there is truth in it. The value of education is now more recognized than ever. As we live in a modern time of information, it is key that we not only be educated but also constantly updated with new trends, learning, global events, among others.

Students have come to adapt to this new lifestyle as well. Learning is now much different than how it was before, when being attentive to class or making sure you are updated with textbook readings is enough to be considered a good student. Today, in order to excel, you must always be a step ahead. Consequently, students nowadays have managed to maximize different opportunities to learn, and because we live in a digital world, the Internet and World Wide Web have a big role to play in all these. Almost everything can now be learned, studied, or researched online. If you want to learn a foreign language,a quick search will show you several results for an online Foreign Language class which you can easily book with just a few taps of your finger. Some may even master a new language through online video tutorials - which is not only practical but also convenient. Established education systems have also employed online course programs for people who cannot adhere to a fixed school schedule.

Given all these, we can say that Internet has become a beneficial tool for most of us. However, at some point, when we put it in the context of education, it creates both a good and bad learning environment at the same time. Why is that? The answer is simple, the Internet can be a great aid for us - but only if it's available and you can afford it. The reality is, the Internet can create a wall between people who can and cannot access it. There are places, especially in developing countries, where electricity is not even available, so much so an Internet connection. Children studying in these rural areas also have minimal to virtually nonexistent education or school programs, which is already putting them on a setback. Now, students in more developed areas, where a functional education program exists and an Internet connection is available, will progress with the resources that they have - leaving those with none behind.

Equal opportunities mean closing the gap and bringing the wall down between people who do not share the same resources. While changing the entire education system overnight is highly impossible, there are little ways where small groups can help to even out the game for everyone. FreeSearch is a chatbot created specifically to provide Internet access for FREE. How does it work? Users, students in particular, can access the chatbot and ‘make a search query', and the bot will then reply details and information related to the query made. However, since FreeSearch takes advantage of Internet.org's zero rating practice on mobile carriers, these can all be done for free. Not only does it allow a cost-effective way of searching online, it is also more accessible because it can be used with even a basic mobile smart phone.

Simple as it may seem, but the FreeSearch chatbot can already open a lot more opportunities for students who have fewer resources. Using the app can help them stay connected online - where they can research and learn things without paying. With this relatively little step, we hope that it's also a step closer to providing everyone equal opportunities to learn.