The government has earmarked £5.6m for training teachers in how
to bring technology into the classroom more effectively.
The Open University and the IT sector's skills council,
e-skills UK, launched the government-funded initiative, which
will help to help build teachers' IT skills and enable them to stay
up-to-date with technological developments.
The fund aims to help teachers to keep up with the
technology their students are embracing, and there will be a
particular focus on providing them with first-hand experience of
the ways IT is used to drive innovation in business.
Distance learning, face-to-face events and an online community
will be used to deliver the initiative's material.
The programme, funded by the Department of Children, Schools and
Families, "will help teachers of all subjects make effective use of
ICT as an inspirational and effective learning tool and boost the
technology skills of their students," according to a statement from
e-skills UK.
Karen Price, CEO at e-skills UK, said: "To prepare young people
for successful futures, we need to transform the way technology is
taught and used in education. This places new demands on the skills
and knowledge required of teachers."
Professor Brenda Gourley, vice-chancellor of the Open
University, added: "From Facebook and Wi-Fi, to iPods and YouTube,
today's school pupils are some of the most technologically savvy
people in society. We are looking forward to helping teachers
become even better at harnessing the potential of technology in
their own classrooms."