Edtech Vision 2025

House of Lords; paragraph 394

The House of Lords Select Committee on Democracy and Digital Technologies, said this about digital literacy and skills in schools in its 2020, report, ‘Digital Technology and the Resurrection of Trust’;

“It is not this Committee’s place, or aim, to re-organise the education system. However, better digital media literacy should be placed in the context of the need for a wider change in education in response to the influence and use of digital technology. When we asked civil servants about how the Government planned to respond to these changes, ... the Department for Education told us that the Government’s “big computer science programme … aims to train one teacher in every secondary school… both in subject content and pedagogy”.

We regard this as an underwhelming response demonstrating a lack of understanding within the Department about what kind of investment and additional commitment is needed to bring about change.

We remain sceptical as to whether the Government has a full understanding of the critical ways in which digital media literacy and technical computing skills differ.”

We need better coordination and commitment across government and the Forum recommends the creation of an Office for EdTech and Digital Skills located

EDTECH VISION 2025

The Edtech vision 2025 looks at devices and connectivity for smart and sensitive use of data, proactive training and support for educators to make the most of technology. It’s all about teaching and learning. We believe that new ways of organising delivery will be required to ensure that the lessons learned during the pandemic are embedded. A national commitment to BLENDED LEARNING can enrich and broaden learning; consolidating knowledge. The time for supportive AFTER HOURS SCHOOL and College LEARNING has come. Again. Focus on the ‘digital’ is often confused across government, with future facing digital policy and implementation distributed across Whitehall departments, often within differ-ent strategies - with even some relevant to the whole of the UK.

at the heart of government to lead a new edtech strategy, with a focus on teaching and learning, digital skills and digital literacy.

COVID-19 also exposed the extent to which many schools are struggling after years of real terms budget cuts and reduction in grant funding to schools and colleges.

In the short term, Education can move forward and prevent learning ‘loss’ through developing targeted blended learning - content created by educators themselves, as pioneered by the Blended Learning Consortium, from the Heart of Worcester College. Pioneering further education has much to share with the whole system. Developing digital strategy and a blended approach can have huge benefits for institutions, educators and learners. The ability to consolidate knowledge and skills is paramount.

Sir Mark Grundy, Edtech UK Forum member has high hopes for the future:

“As we finally see light at the end of the tunnel, I hope that we continue with the things that ironically have made schools better. The use of Edtech to deliver into homes must not be lost. The reformatting of parents’ evenings, with us using Teams, has been a huge success, as has the delivery of online pastoral support. There are real gains for teaching and learning to be made; we can’t afford to waste this moment.”

Ty Goddard, On behalf of Edtech UK Advisory Forum

The Vision 2025 report is available: www.edtechuk.org

A BIG THANK YOU

“Thank You to all those educators, school and college leaders and support staff for protecting and inspiring learning during those turbulent times.” Edtech UK Advisory Forum