Technology can ensure education for all

The power of technology in education can be felt the most when it is used to bring about self-reliance through digital literacy.  In other words, teaching students and teachers to use technology effectively, helps them access online content and web-based learning which in turn increases the quality of the education imparted and finally implemented in the workplace.

ICT can be used to transform teachers into coaches. Technology can also be used to support migration of talent across schools and colleges, promoting new ideas and fresh perspectives and best practices.  Most importantly, technology must be used to build the best and standardised digital content and make this content repository available for teachers on the cloud.

Technology takes knowledge resources to the door step of the learner. Technology helps provide access to all.  eLearning can also play a major role by providing standardised quality and equality of access.  eLearning must be used as an effort multiplier for providing access. Similarly, social media is growing in importance even in formal education. There are several examples where educators use social media to connect better with their students and with each other. The power of the social media can be harnessed by creating classroom communities or forums where students/teachers can discuss academics, issues and topics. Such forums can also be used to provide guidance or mentoring. Students can share knowledge and information beyond traditional boundaries.

Thus, the role of technology to support and facilitate peer collaboration is unique and impactful. Technology can provide connectivity and supply access devices.  Most importantly, technology can support content generation.  Using technology to provide a platform to share ideas, build a community and pool knowledge resources will be the way forward in the future.