According to a report released this week by the National Association of State Boards of Education (U.S.), there is a strong need to improve the technology skills of teachers and other school officials, and to help them understand how digital tools should be used in the classroom. The report covers many issues–from the need to improve educational infrastructure, and tailor learning to personalize instruction, to the need to use technology to build students’ foundational research and analytical skills.
The report also examines the extent to which many teachers, principals, curriculum specialists, and support staff lack the necessary familiarity with technology to make the most of it in classrooms. Many barriers exist to closing this gap, including steady teacher turnover and a generation gap—the average age of principals is around 50. Many teachers, meanwhile, are not given adequate training for the tech challenges ahead.