That EdTech edge

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This is the first blog post of many to for your perusal, and this post looks at digitalising education. Sure, it maybe a consistent drone of the same information for some, but it serves as a reminder that it is still a contested debate in the 21st century education. And not in that of technology.

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Technology is everywhere, and this definitely holds true in South Africa.

Design by Shraddha Patnala

It has surrounded us in every sphere of life throughout human evolution. From the lowly stone tools to the electricity that powers our existence today, each invention has elevated society through the ranks in nature. The technology of the 21st century brings with it convenience, amusement, and an incredible number of opportunities to improve ourselves, so I often wondered how classrooms of all places could be lagging behind in the world of technology. It would seem that technology and education would work in seamless harmony, right?

Well, the story so far in the world of education is that of technology becoming more of a hindrance to learning than a helping hand for teachers. Where technology and education seem to work together the best in schools is within the science and ICT fields, contrary to the hope that it would be useful across the school curriculum. There are two particular issues with the traditional perspective within the classroom. The first issue being the cling to outdated, ineffective teaching styles in schools, which has driven students away from enjoying what they learn. And the second being the lack of resources to train teachers for incorporating technology in their classrooms.  

It is safe to assume, however, that technology is appealing across the board. It makes teaching faster, dynamic, and exciting for students; which in turn results in improved learning and knowledge retention. Now, however much this sounds like an advert for tech in the classroom, journalism in South Africa shows that the Edtech revolution is here to stay.

Start-up companies specialising in Edtech have sprung up in major South African cities like Cape Town and Joburg, bringing the revolution closer to home. According to IOL, start-ups like Snapplify, Injini, and Udemy are major players in the business and education transformation but top investors are yet to take interest in them. A wrong move, according to the IOL, and with good reason. The education sector in South Africa has a silent and steady revolution at its doorstep, and its our choice whether we join the world.

As David Geurin, an educator in Missouri, says “Classrooms don’t need tech geeks who can teach, but teaching geeks who can use tech.”