Ensuring Access to Skilled Teachers

 

Why are skilled teachers in technology important in education?

As artificial intelligence continues to permeate every aspect of our lives, teachers must prepare students by fostering digital literacy, problem-solving skills, and technological fluency. Skilled teachers are therefore paramount in education since:

• They help students build a foundation in digital literacy including using software, understanding online safety, and navigating digital resources.

• They adequately prepare students in the technological field since most jobs require technological skills, in that skilled teachers can facilitate the instruction in coding and data analysis allowing for students to be more apt in tech-driven careers. 

• Technology in education enhances problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Skilled teachers guide students through logical processes, programming, and troubleshooting, equipping them to tackle complex challenges with confidence and competence.

• Not all students have equal access to technology at home, but skilled teachers can help bridge this gap by creating equitable learning opportunities in the classroom, providing access to devices to use, or simply having internet access that they may not have at home. This ensures that all students gain hands-on experience with modern technology tools.

• With skilled guidance, students can use technology to create, innovate, and express themselves. Teachers with technology expertise can introduce students to digital art, design, video production, and other creative outlets that enrich their learning experience.

• Skilled teachers play a vital role in relating the digital world through technology to real-world concepts.

Perspective of a teacher who was trained in using technology

Competency goes hand in hand with confidence; thus, skilled teachers encourage students and empower them to excel in our rapidly evolving digital world. Proficient teachers in technology at my institution would significantly impact the quality of tuition students receive.

Views of students on their experience with the implementation of technology in the classroom

  Some teachers at my institution have been trained and are competent in using Nearpod, Whiteboard, Google Classroom, etc. This has positively affected students as they are more engaged in lessons and retain information at a higher rate. They are more enthusiastic and motivated to learn new concepts when they realize they can use their devices in class. However, further training is necessary since those applications, although relevant, are limited since there are updates and add-ons that would make the overall delivery of a lesson more exciting. 

 Instruction does not need to be face-to-face, nor does it have to be in the classroom; students can go on field trips using virtual reality and create experiences where the class can be involved in an educational activity on the school compound using artificial reality through their cellphones. That being said, navigating simple programs such as Excel or PowerPoint is still difficult for some teachers, and with artificial intelligence, it is ever more evident that one must become skilled. 

But, how do we do this? 

Training must not be conducted without purpose or merely to claim that teachers are skilled in technology. The educational system must evolve, and instruction along with the testing methods should be streamlined using technology. However, this means that programs must be created for prospective teachers to learn how to implement technology effectively in their instruction. These training programs must be continuous and serve as refresher courses. The infrastructure must also be updated or at least available, there is an issue at most schools in Barbados where WIFI is limited or non-existent, and with technology, the most important factor barring the programs we use to implement is the speed of a WIFI network.