C-proposal on digital learning tools: Don't forget leadership, Anna-Karin Hatt!
The points are in summary:
- All schools should have their own IT strategy.
- A national digital teacher training program.
- Increased research in IT-based pedagogy.
- More institutions offering open online courses.
- Facilitating distance and distance learning.
IT&Telecom companies can only welcome the proposals. In Almedalen, we presented the Decision Book, which is also a five-point program. In important parts, it is in line with the C's proposals, e.g. regarding teacher training and the role of research.
However, there are a couple of major gaps in C's proposals, the most important of which is leadership. As highlighted in the Decision Book, for there to be any effective use of digital tools at all, it is essential that school leaders manage the difficult transition from traditional teaching to more modern methods of teaching. Anna-Karin Hatt mentioned this in the presentation that the role of the management should be seen as part of the teacher lift, but for our part we would like it to be highlighted even more clearly.
The second gap is in teacher training, where Ulrika Carlsson, who used to be a teacher herself, could testify to meetings with newly qualified teachers who feel they have insufficient knowledge in the use of modern learning tools. The Decision Book has upgraded teacher training as its No. 4 proposal - go for it!
Centern's presentation took place at IT-gymnasiet in Sundbyberg, north of Stockholm. Headmaster Staffan Rådelius gave a tour of the premises and was himself a living example of the leadership challenges faced by a school working with modern learning methods: Which digital platforms work best? How to reconcile the requirement for physical presence with individualized learning, independent of time and space? How to reconcile formative assessment (= continuous monitoring to support learning), promoted by digital tools, with the use of traditional tests (= summative assessment)?
Students Eda Aydogan and Oskar Wiik, who participated in the tour, could testify to the benefits of the free, flexible use of the learning tools. "You are not tied to the premises and the school schedule when solving tasks," said Oskar Wiik. Through constant feedback, including via Google Drive as the main platform, you never feel that you are "done" when you submit an assignment or a test, but you always have opportunities to learn new things.
The Centre's proposal is a step towards realizing the modern, flexible, individualized way of learning. However, clearer national efforts are needed to achieve a qualitatively equivalent introduction throughout the country. In addition, the elephant in the room that no one talks about - the political leadership of the Ministry of Education - must take responsibility.