DIGITAL CURRICULA AND THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF EDUCATION

Abstract

The study addressed the theme of web curriculum and curricula in distance education (DE), considering their characteristics, advantages, and challenges in the context of the democratization of education. It was based on the understanding that the expansion of digital technologies has caused significant transformations in the organization of educational processes, especially in the way curricula are structured in virtual learning environments. In this context, the research problem sought to understand how digital curricula and the web curriculum in distance education could contribute to the democratization of education, considering their characteristics, potentialities, and limitations related to digital inclusion and access to education. The general objective was to analyze the characteristics, advantages, and challenges of the web curriculum in distance education, discussing its relationship with digital inclusion and the democratization of access to education. To achieve this objective, bibliographic research was adopted as the methodological approach, based on the analysis of academic studies addressing the use of digital technologies in education and their implications for curriculum organization. The development discussed curricular transformations associated with digital technologies, highlighting the possibilities for expanding access to education, diversifying pedagogical strategies, and addressing challenges related to digital inclusion and teacher training. The final considerations indicated that digital curricula showed potential to expand educational opportunities and support the democratization of education, although their effectiveness depends on access to technologies, adequate teacher training, and appropriate pedagogical organization of virtual learning environments.