Scotland showcases technologies for learning at world forum
I was in London earlier this month for the Education World Forum.
Hosted by the Foreign Secretary, it was attended by dozens of education ministers from around the world, from the likes of Slovenia, Canada and Rwanda, as well as hundreds of senior non-political figures from the sector.
With the theme being ‘Education for Economic Success’, it was an excellent opportunity to talk about how Scotland has embraced 21st century challenges and opportunities by rolling Curriculum for Excellence out to all our public schools this year. I believe Scotland’s experiences and ambitions stimulated a great deal of interest.
Curriculum for Excellence is without doubt Scotland’s most ambitious programme of education reform in a generation which will prepare our children and young people for the uncertainties of the future, their effective participation in a global society and contribution to Scotland’s economic growth.
An essential part of how the curriculum will work is our investment in technologies for learning. An integral component of learning and part of the broad curriculum, our ambition is typified by the flagship Glow website, the world’s first national education platform. We are also committed to embedding technology into learning in a proactive and integrated manner through development of a technologies for learning strategy.
Glow is an integrated suite of tools and applications, including over a million resources. Teachers, learners and parents can access the site either in school or remotely and explore, create, share, collaborate and showcase work.
My words on Glow and the use of technology in Scottish education chimed nicely with the previous speakers and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to talk about the excellent work being carried out in this country in front of such a large and respected audience.
In Scotland we are reforming our education system to make it fit for purpose in a new era. No matter how difficult the choices in front of us are, ambition and investment in education must not be compromised.