How Can Digital Tools Drive Sustainable Education Systems Change? Lessons from a Foundational Learning Program in India

• In Event: Roundtable Session 7
  In Refereed Roundtable Session: Global Approaches to Digital Integration and Equity in Education

Proposal

India’s National Education Policy (2020) and the National School Education Curriculum (2022) emphasize the need for meaningful technology integration in education programming, especially in capacity building, teaching and learning, educational planning, and school management. In the last two years, the positive policy environment and government commitment to utilizing technology to strengthen education programming have led to innovative technology-based ideas and solutions targeting children, parents, teachers, and teacher educators. A five-year foundational learning (FL) project is utilizing a holistic approach to support several state governments to (1) improve monitoring tracking systems and the use of data by education officials; (2) improve learning environments and increase availability of relevant, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and grade-appropriate teaching and learning materials; (3) enhance system capacity to train teachers and school leaders; (4) increase education system and private sector awareness and support for FL; and (5) increase parental engagement in early learning. In partnership with state governments, the project is helping to visualize and create digital solutions (1) to build knowledge and understanding among public schoolteachers and administrators to implement FL programs; (2) to create online repositories of learning resources for teachers and children to meet contextual needs and to be responsive to different ways of learning; and (3) to visualize and develop a tech-based comprehensive reporting and monitoring system (CFLRS), allowing state governments to identify and address school- and system-level issues impacting education quality and learning outcomes.

This presentation aims to inform development practitioners and others working in the field of foundational learning (FL) in low-resource settings in diverse contexts around what to consider when preparing, designing, and monitoring digital solutions to enhance education systems. With this aim in mind, the presentation will answer three key questions: a) What are the areas and opportunities to use technology to transform FL programs? b) How can digital solutions be developed, implemented, and monitored in partnership with state governments? and c) What do state governments need to consider to optimally use and integrate technology at scale?

The presentation will share evidence from India on how state-owned digital solutions can drive positive transformation through education systems strengthening interventions. The presentation will provide an overview of states’ current digital infrastructure and needs, and the requirements and processes to design and develop the CFLRS. The presentation will also draw upon lessons from India and globally around integrating digital solutions in teacher professional development programs and the use of digital multi-modal methods to enhance effective classroom practices linked to improved student learning and well-being. The presentation will include key design considerations when developing and scaling-up digital solutions responsive to the states’ diverse needs and challenges (e.g., minimal digital infrastructure, hard-to-reach locations, multiple marginalized sub-groups). Finally, the presentation will highlight key principles and considerations for creating viable, sustainable, and scalable digital solutions to strengthen education service delivery.

Author

• Katherine Begley, CARE USA