Scaling teacher development and support through digital platforms

• In Event: Digital innovations for accelerating foundational learning: engaging learners, teachers, parents, and systems

Proposal

The ongoing global learning crisis has highlighted the urgent need for innovative solutions to enhance teacher capacity, particularly in low-resource settings where access to quality professional development is limited. This presentation explores how digital platforms are transforming teacher training programs in Guinea, Zambia, and Ghana, providing scalable solutions to strengthen FLN outcomes.

In Guinea, Zambia, and Ghana, digital tools have been leveraged to reach teachers in remote areas, offering online learning modules, virtual peer networks, and data-driven dashboards that monitor teacher progress and performance. For example, in Zambia, a blended approach combining digital learning with in-person coaching has significantly teachers' instructional effectiveness, while in Ghana, real-time data dashboards have enhanced the monitoring of teacher development and supported adaptive management of training programs.

These digital solutions have demonstrated promising results, such as improved instructional practices and greater access to professional development opportunities. However, several challenges remain, including digital literacy gaps, limited internet connectivity, and inadequate access to digital devices. The presentation will discuss these barriers and suggest strategies for overcoming them, such as developing low-bandwidth content, enhancing digital literacy among educators, and fostering partnerships to support digital infrastructure improvements.

Guided by frameworks such as UNICEF’s RAPID Framework, which emphasizes real-time data use and adaptive management, this presentation will also reflect on lessons learned and what could have been done differently, such as earlier investment in digital infrastructure and more targeted support for digital literacy. The discussion will focus on the need for robust policy frameworks that promote equitable access to digital resources and support the sustainability of digital teacher development programs.

By sharing insights from these three countries, the presentation will provide a roadmap for scaling digital platforms for teacher development in other contexts, offering practical recommendations for education policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders seeking to enhance teacher capacity and improve foundational learning outcomes.

Author

• Agnes Arthur, UNICEF