In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, the integration of technology in schooling is becoming a necessity. However, to this day, many teachers still face a steep learning curve when it comes to incorporating technology into their teaching methods. According to a report, to date, 30 per cent of teachers are not highly proficient with digital tools and only 31.4 per cent of teachers are comfortable with managing a Learning Management System (LMS). Hence, it has become a common concern that bringing technologically advanced tools into the classroom doesn't certainly mean that teachers are fully utilising them to educate our students on 21st-century skills. So, as we align with the New Education Policy goal of making India a global knowledge superpower, it is crucial that we sufficiently train our teachers about leveraging the advanced tools available at their disposal.
Technology has the potential to revolutionise education, making it more engaging, interactive, and accessible. When used effectively, it can cater to the diverse learning styles of each individual and prepare students for the demands of the digital age. While supporting the students, technological integration can also help teachers provide real-time assessment feedback and streamline administrative tasks. Moreover, technology-based classroom management resources like LMS, attendance, assessment and reporting software streamline the overall learning and teaching experience. Hence, to unlock these major benefits, it is important that our teachers be adequately trained.
Monica Malhotra Kandhari, a second-generation entrepreneur and the Managing Director of AASOKA & MBD Group outlined the effective strategies to integrate technology into teaching styles
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Professional Development Workshops: One of the most direct ways to train is by offering them hands-on training in the use of educational technology, such as LMS, interactive whiteboards, and various software applications. These professional development workshops can be organised by schools, school districts or educational organisations. For eg. facilitating quality training according to the National Professional Standards for Teachers as mentioned in NEP 2020. Moreover, online webinars can also provide flexibility for teachers to learn at their own pace, with a wide range of tutorials on integrating technology into the classroom.
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Peer Learning: Encouraging learning and collaboration with peers is essential. Learning from experienced teachers who have successfully integrated technology can serve as mentors for the ones who are still learning. This not only helps in sharing useful insights but also builds a supportive community around educators.
Technology in Pre-existing Teacher Training Programs: Our out-of-date teacher training programs should be revamped in order to accommodate appropriate coursework on technology integration skills so that our teachers are fully prepared before even entering the classrooms. Access to technical assistance can also boost teachers' confidence while using technological tools in their educational journey.
Proper Certification for Assessment: To ensure that teachers meet the required standards, it is important to have a system of certifications. This involves a standardised evaluation of teachers' proficiency in using technology and their ability to integrate it effectively into their teaching methods. Also, rewarding certified teachers can incentivize self-motivated professional improvement.
Encourage Experimentation Mindset: Embracing a growth mindset, where it's okay to make mistakes and learn from them, can help teachers become more proficient in technology integration.