Jim Knight

We need more technology in classrooms – not less

We need more, not less, technology in classrooms

  • From Spectator Life

The government has rightly identified that improving education will help ‘level up’ Britain. Higher-quality teaching is one tool to get there, but with roughly a third of teachers leaving the profession within five years of qualifying, better teacher training won’t be a quick enough fix to turn things around within its eight-year target. What’s needed is a massive roll-out of educational technology to provide teacher support.

When I was a schools minister, I oversaw an agency that advised and procured technology. We had a school rebuilding programme that embedded effective technology in its design. We also managed to get half a million of the most disadvantaged children online at home with the Home Access Scheme. This was more than a decade ago, though. These programmes were all subsequently scrapped by Michael Gove when he was education minister.

The Department for Education published a research report last year on the use of education technology to support teaching and the effective day-to-day management of schools. Its survey of 900 headteachers found that almost two-thirds had introduced or increased technology in the classroom because of Covid. More than half of teachers and heads told the survey that this technology had already contributed to improved grades.

‘Sometimes I worry that Lavinia is turning into a pushy parent.’

One particularly good example of technology that can aid education is Google Classroom. The app, which had 600,000 downloads in the UK last year, allows teachers to start video meetings with students at home to create and manage assignments. This dynamic and interactive tool provides greater engagement with pupils, thus ensuring children don’t fall behind when outside the classroom. It should continue to be rolled out.

Then there is Century Tech, which uses AI tools to equip teachers with the data they need on individual students. It allows learners to progress through maths, science and English at a challenging but personalised pace.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in