Governments Must Focus On Training Teachers Rather Than Delivering Devices

Putting the acquisition of devices first may also trigger challenges from interested parties, such as teacher unions. Some schools simply will not be digitally ready, they will not have the infrastructure or physical space to use the device effectively, Salcito said.

The perception that the introduction of more technology in the classroom will reduce the role of teachers is completely wrong and governments should focus more on training teachers than on delivering devices to students, according to global education expert Anthony Salcito.

Salcito, vice president of Microsoft Worldwide Education, told PTI in an interview, "Governments recognize that education is the fuel for the future in a much clearer way, the clarity of industrial change to the digital era in the industrial revolution has created a demand for change "in the talent that is required to train students in the new era".

"However, this perception that technology in the classroom will reduce (the) role of teachers is wrong ... totally false. "The value of teachers has never been as great in human history as it is today and the role of technology is also to train educators, which is the appropriate channel through which education must be imparted to students", he said.

According to Salcito, who has worked with different state governments in India in the training of educators, said that "the governments of developing countries with fewer resources should be extremely clear about the general vision they have for their education sector with a special focus in training teachers and learning outcomes instead of focusing on delivering devices to students."

"What often happens in emerging economies is that leaders who drive hope for change and who try to revitalize educational systems and outcomes will often use technology as a tool to inspire others and will generally start with an acquisition agenda. They start with: I will buy a device for each student and we will equip each class for the internet. "

"Those proclamations are often wrong because they are about the thing rather than the real transformation of people and what we know is that the most important element we have to change is the mindset of students and educators for the future," he said.

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https://indianexpress.com/article/education/governments-should-focus-on-training-teachers-than-handing-out-devices-to-students-microsoft-education-expert-5674162/lite/