The document discusses how mobile technology can be used effectively by teachers and trainers to promote student learning. It argues that a government's investment in teacher training on educational technology is more important than investing in the technology itself. It also notes that while resources and case studies can help, hands-on experience is needed. The document outlines different types of digital divides and stresses the need to address skills and access to avoid structural inequalities. It advocates for training teachers in learning design using technology and providing them with design tools so they can become action researchers.

1. How mobile technology can work for
teachers and trainers
Niall Winters
London Knowledge Lab
Institute of Education, University of London
http://www.lkl.ac.uk/niall
UNESCO Mobile Learning Week, Feb 18 2014

2. “A government’s investment in training
teachers to use educational technology
productively is more important than its
investment in technology itself.” –UNESCO

3. “A government’s investment in training
teachers to use educational technology
productively is more important than its
investment in technology itself.” –UNESCO

4. The use of edtech
• Understand how technology can be best
used to promote student learning
– Resources
– Case studies
– Templates
• Codified knowledge only takes us so far…
• We’re in danger of supporting structural
inequalities

5. Digital Divide
• Conceptualise as information inequality
(van Dijk, 1999)
• Four kinds of access barriers
– Lack of experience (lack of interest)
– No access to hardware (tradition view)
– Lack of digital skills
– Lack of significant usage opportunities

6. Avoiding inequality
• Mobile learning for development has
addressed the first two/three issues
• Focus must be on the latter two to avoid
– A usage gap between ‘simple’ and ‘advanced’
application
– Resulting structural inequality
• Educational for All & Post-2015 agenda

7. From “use” to “design”
• Better teacher training in learning design
with technology
– Workshop models (e.g. PPW)
• Design tools for teachers
– Learning designer (tel.ioe.ac.uk/ldse)
– mCHW platform
• Teachers as action researchers

8. Thanks!
•
•
•
•
n.winters@ioe.ac.uk
http://www.lkl.ac.uk/niall
http://www.mCHW.org
@nwin