Digital technologies would help in improving teaching methods while digital learning can improve student achievement if the tools are integrated into teaching and learning, according to I.V. Subba Rao, Chief of Literacy, Basic Education and Non-formal Education at Unesco.
A panel discussion on ‘pedagogy and teacher in the digital era’ was held at the Navyandhra Pustaka Sambaralu (book festival) here on Friday.
On the occasion, Mr. Subba Rao said that technology would act as an assistant to a teacher. Both teaching and learning processes would be simplified and improved with digital technologies. Time and space were no barriers to learning through open online courses. At the same time, digital technologies would not eliminate the teacher from the learning process as human interface was a must in this aspect, he said.
“There may be platforms such as Skype to communicate in real time. But, one requires a music teacher to learn music through Skype. Similarly, a five-year-old child might know Google would dig out information of his choice. But, he requires the help of his grandfather to use Google,” he explained.
“Parents, educationists and teachers should understand the fact that they can’t stay away from technology. One should embrace it for better results,” Mr. Subba Rao said.
Mother tongue
To a question, Mr. Subba Rao said that imparting education in mother tongue was more beneficial. “A student learns faster if taught in his mother tongue. Learning other languages will also be easier if a child learns his mother tongue. There may exceptions here and there,” he added.
Child rights activist N. Manga Devi, tribal education expert China Veerabhadrudu and others were present.
