Makueni Education County Executive Madam Elizabeth Muli has urged teachers to embrace and harness digital technology advancements and use it as a tool to enhance learning without replacing the vital role played by teachers in a classroom
Addressing the county secondary school heads in this year’s Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) summit at Mombasa, she must equip their learners to be abreast with the latest technology in order to face the tech-dependent world better.
“We are living in a rapidly evolving world, standing at the very threshold of a new era. We must prepare our students, parents and educators alike to navigate this digital world strategically,” stated Muli.
Even as the sector embraces the new technological changes, Muli advised them to ensure that the fabric of quality learning was not lost in the process and that the technological journey be made with a clear vision and strategy because like any other change process, digital learning was not without its challenges.
“The strategy must be developed collaboratively with all stakeholders including teachers, students, administrators and parents. They must each understand their roles and ensure it doesn’t become a replacement of face-to-face interaction and learning but rather a tool that compliments it all,” she elaborated.
She also added that digital learning provided tools that enabled teachers to personalize instructions to meet individual needs. That with the help of adaptive learning software and data analytics, teachers could track students’ progress and adjust their instructions accordingly.
Online discussions forums, projects and video conferencing can further facilitate meaningful discussions and exchange of ideas leading to a more enriching learning experience.
Parents, she explained, through technology will have a greater visibility into their children’s learning journey at the click of a button.
“By accessing progress reports on online platforms, parents can stay informed about their children’s academic performance and provide support where necessary,” she said.
Ms. Muli stated that digital learning will expose students to diverse intellects, cultures and perspectives around the world, broadening their horizon and understanding of systemic global issues.
However, she urged the educators to be aware of the challenges brought about by the use of technology. She encouraged the principals to ensure students were not overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available online and lose critical thinking skills.
That students should be protected from cyber bullying, online predators and exposure to inappropriate content or over reliance on technology and also ensure students were not disengaged from learning process and reduced to mere consumers of digital content.
Digital learning, she described, was more than adoption of technology. It requires a shift in mindset, a willingness to embrace change, take risks, experiment and make mistakes while learning from them.
“Educators are custodians of these precious resources and it is our responsibility to ensure digital learning enhances rather than undermine the quality of education we provide,” she stated.
By George Otieno
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