Teaching and learning using modern technology
UNICEF’s digital training equips educators in Sri Lanka with skills to uplift learning for children
Ms. Geethika Sanjeewani (42), a resource person attached to the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, is passionate about exploring new ways to integrate technology into education to enhance the learning experiences of students.
“During Covid-19 I saw a huge knowledge gap when teachers suddenly had to use digital technology to conduct their lessons. Teachers, though proficient in their subjects, lacked the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills to effectively deliver lessons beyond the traditional classroom setting,” says Sanjeewani.
“This is a gap we need to overcome as we progress with the usage of digital technology to improve learning opportunities for all children. Teacher capacity, specifically in engaging learners, is a critical element of the digital ecosystem. Therefore, we need to invest in equipping educators with digital teaching skills.”
“I was part of the recently concluded Teacher Digital Competency Curriculum (TDCC) training for master trainers. The training guided us on how to adapt teaching and learning environments to a blended setting that uses both digital and traditional classroom methods. Key areas such as setting up the digital environment, developing lesson plans using appropriate tools, and how to develop the classroom approach, were covered in the training.”
“The learning style was very practical and localized allowing different subject teachers to contextualize the skills gathered to their own subjects and classroom settings.”
“The knowledge gained at the training equipped us with the capacity to pass down skills to teachers across the country for the effective adaptation of modern technology to our education system,” she affirms.
The training held in June 2023, an initiative of UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, was motivated by the gaps in teacher digital knowledge and the requirements identified during COVID-19 when schools were forced to function on digital platforms. It aims to develop the skill sets amongst all teachers -regardless of their subjects, positions, or places of assignment, enabling digital technology for effective classroom delivery and enhanced teaching and learning environments. Altogether, 750 master trainers from all nine provinces in the country received the training.
“It's important to integrate technology into education to improve the learning processes of children and young persons in the digital age. This training will initiate the effective adaptation of ICT and digital tools in schools across the country, benefiting all children,” Sanjeewani concludes.