Virtual education in the rural sector: analysis of scientific literature

Alejandro Valencia-Arias ^1* Lina Marcela Méndez Velásquez ² Erica Agudelo-Ceballos ² Jorge Tomás Cumpa Vásquez ¹ Jesus Alberto Jimenez García ¹ Ezequiel Martínez ³

• ¹ Lord of Sipan University, Chiclayo, Peru
• ² Metropolitan Institute of Technology, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
• ³ Arturo Prat University, Iquique, Chile

The advent of the pandemic has led to a surge in the popularity of virtual education in rural areas, which has the potential to bridge the access gap. The digital transition has opened up new avenues for educational opportunities in remote areas. However, challenges remain in regional educational events, necessitating the implementation of differentiated approaches. The lack of accurate information justifies the need for research, especially to analyze and address neglected areas. The objective of this study is to explore the research trends in the field. The methodology employed a bibliometric analysis, guided by the PRISMA-2020 statement, in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results demonstrated exponential growth, with the years 2021 and 2022 identified as the most prolific. Among the principal references, the authors Wang J, Computers and Education magazine, and the United States and India were identified as leaders. Thematic evolution indicates a transition towards topics such as professional learning, mental health, and public health. The keyword co-occurrence network highlights thematic clusters such as e-learning, information and communication technology (ICT), and teacher training. The analysis of the validity and frequency of keywords reveals emerging concepts such as rural health and digital inclusion, along with