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'Cloud for Youth': An Implementation Research of Cloud-Based Solutions for Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural China

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Title: 'Cloud for Youth': An Implementation Research of Cloud-Based Solutions for Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural China
Language: English
Authors: Yuan Shen, Guijing Huang, Huixiao Le, Shufan Yu (ORCID 0000-0001-6845-0065), Mingxue Xu, Jiayu Ouyang, Yizhou Fan (ORCID 0000-0003-2777-1705), Qiong Wang
Source: British Journal of Educational Technology. 2026 57(3):844-868.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Rural Areas, Disadvantaged, Access to Computers, Internet, Information Storage, Rural Schools, Digital Literacy, Program Implementation, Barriers, Faculty Development, Capacity Building, Readiness, Electronic Learning
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1111/bjet.70037
ISSN: 0007-1013
1467-8535
Abstract: The digital divide poses a significant challenge to educational equity as technology becomes central to learning. This study examines Cloud for Youth, an educational charity project that utilises cloud technology to bridge the digital divide in rural China. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), we examined how the project addressed the digital divide in rural schools and identified the factors that influenced its implementation across various contexts. We collected data through questionnaire surveys (1063 students, 60 teachers, 62 school administrators and 37 regional education officials), interviews (14 teachers and 17 administrators), on-site observations in 11 schools and system data. Our findings demonstrate that cloud-based solutions address three levels of the digital divide in rural China by promoting access, enabling effective use and enhancing digital literacy among teachers and students. Successful adoption was facilitated by the adaptability of cloud-based solutions to local needs, the perceived benefits over traditional teaching methods, active partnerships between schools and external organisations and a high degree of tension for change in schools. However, implementation was hindered by persistent tensions between users' needs, capabilities, motivations and the broader environment. These tensions were reflected in students' limited access to reliable internet and digital devices in rural areas, teachers' insufficient competence in guiding students using digital tools, an institutional culture that resists digital transformation and a lack of targeted professional development and capacity-building support. This study highlights the importance of institutional and home readiness for digital tools, teacher-led development of digital resources and strategic guidance for students exploring digital technologies to foster equitable and adaptable digital learning.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503333
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: 'Cloud for Youth': An Implementation Research of Cloud-Based Solutions for Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural China
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yuan+Shen%22">Yuan Shen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guijing+Huang%22">Guijing Huang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Huixiao+Le%22">Huixiao Le</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shufan+Yu%22">Shufan Yu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6845-0065">0000-0001-6845-0065</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mingxue+Xu%22">Mingxue Xu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jiayu+Ouyang%22">Jiayu Ouyang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yizhou+Fan%22">Yizhou Fan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2777-1705">0000-0003-2777-1705</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qiong+Wang%22">Qiong Wang</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22British+Journal+of+Educational+Technology%22"><i>British Journal of Educational Technology</i></searchLink>. 2026 57(3):844-868.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 25
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Areas%22">Rural Areas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disadvantaged%22">Disadvantaged</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Computers%22">Access to Computers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Internet%22">Internet</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Storage%22">Information Storage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Schools%22">Rural Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Digital+Literacy%22">Digital Literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Implementation%22">Program Implementation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Faculty+Development%22">Faculty Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Capacity+Building%22">Capacity Building</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Readiness%22">Readiness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Learning%22">Electronic Learning</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/bjet.70037
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  Data: 0007-1013<br />1467-8535
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The digital divide poses a significant challenge to educational equity as technology becomes central to learning. This study examines Cloud for Youth, an educational charity project that utilises cloud technology to bridge the digital divide in rural China. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), we examined how the project addressed the digital divide in rural schools and identified the factors that influenced its implementation across various contexts. We collected data through questionnaire surveys (1063 students, 60 teachers, 62 school administrators and 37 regional education officials), interviews (14 teachers and 17 administrators), on-site observations in 11 schools and system data. Our findings demonstrate that cloud-based solutions address three levels of the digital divide in rural China by promoting access, enabling effective use and enhancing digital literacy among teachers and students. Successful adoption was facilitated by the adaptability of cloud-based solutions to local needs, the perceived benefits over traditional teaching methods, active partnerships between schools and external organisations and a high degree of tension for change in schools. However, implementation was hindered by persistent tensions between users' needs, capabilities, motivations and the broader environment. These tensions were reflected in students' limited access to reliable internet and digital devices in rural areas, teachers' insufficient competence in guiding students using digital tools, an institutional culture that resists digital transformation and a lack of targeted professional development and capacity-building support. This study highlights the importance of institutional and home readiness for digital tools, teacher-led development of digital resources and strategic guidance for students exploring digital technologies to foster equitable and adaptable digital learning.
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  Data: 2026
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        Value: 10.1111/bjet.70037
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 25
        StartPage: 844
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Areas
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      – SubjectFull: Program Implementation
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      – SubjectFull: China
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