The Structure and Characteristics of the Digital Education Ecosystem

The Digital Education Ecosystem (DEE) is a system comprising stakeholders involved in the entire educational process, interconnected and interacting within a learning environment facilitated by the application of information and communication technology. This chapter establishes the theoretical framework of the DEE, which includes four components: people (learners, supporters, instructors, consultants, managers); technological infrastructure; teaching resources; and institutional, cultural, and service environments. It also analyzes five characteristics of the DEE: (1) cyclicality, (2) interactivity, (3) symbiosis, (4) sustainability, and (5) systematicity. These theoretical foundations ensure that the DEE supports personalized learning, abundant educational resources, and open educational connectivity. The components and characteristics of the DEE will aid in identifying approaches to the design and application of digital technology in education at macro, meso, and micro levels in each country and educational, technological organization.