Access to Technology-Mediated Education as a Factor of Regional Development in Riverside Communities

Introduction: This article presents an excerpt from the author`s doctoral research, which demonstrates that the availability of new technologies and technology-mediated education to riverside communities has contributed to regional development. Objective: The objective of this article is to present the benefits of the use of communication technologies to regional development in riverside communities, demonstrating that access to and use of new technologies in education promotes economic and social transformations and impacts the lives of an entire society. Theoretical Framework: The study's theoretical framework is based on literature that highlights the relationship between technology, education, and regional development, such as Amartya Sen (2000), Castells (2005, 2017), and Dorothea Kleine (2013). These authors argue that access to information and knowledge is essential to expanding freedoms, generating inclusion, and fostering social transformation. The research also incorporates topics such as territory, identity, and public policies aimed at riverside communities in the Amazon. Method: The bibliographical research on which this study was based was complemented by an analysis of empirical studies already implemented in the Amazon. Priority was given to scientific articles, dissertations, theses, technical reports, and public policy documents published between 2000 and 2024, with an emphasis on literature addressing technology-mediated education, regional development, and riverside communities in the Amazon. Results and Discussion: The research that was undertaken revealed that regional development in remote communities can be fostered by providing them with improved communication and access to education, furthering the development of the entire community. Research Implications: The research demonstrates that technology-mediated education plays a transformative role in riverside communities, promoting access to knowledge and social inclusion by reducing geographic barriers and expanding educational opportunities, directly contributing to regional development. Furthermore, it strengthens citizenship and the ability to demand rights. Finally, it demonstrates that technology, when efficiently applied, is a driver of economic, educational, and social change in these regions. Originality/Value: The originality and value of this study lie in its approach to the use of technology-mediated education as a regional development strategy in riverside communities, which have been traditionally excluded from formal educational processes. The research highlights the social and economic transformation generated by access to digital education, going beyond the simple transmission of knowledge. The study also demonstrates how public policies and technologies can be integrated in isolated regions, and offers an interdisciplinary perspective applied to the Amazonian reality. Its value lies in proposing viable pathways to inclusion and educational equity.