Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho was present at a press conference held at the Seoul Government Complex annex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 13th of this month. The purpose of the press conference was to address the promotion of ‘Edutech’ (educational information technology). The Ministry of Education is taking significant steps to introduce Edutech at the government level. Their plan involves establishing a platform where students can have access to cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) for free school education, as well as conducting teacher training.
The Ministry aims to export the edtech industry abroad while also implementing relevant laws. However, concerns have been raised within the education community regarding the government’s haste in introducing this technology, given the lack of clarity on its educational impact and insufficient social discussion.
During the Emergency Economic Ministers Meeting and Export Investment Measures Meeting held on the 18th, the Ministry of Education announced the ‘Edutech Promotion Plan’. Edutech, a combination of the words education and technology, encompasses various technologies, products, and services that enhance learning effectiveness by incorporating the latest AI technologies like digital textbooks or GPT (generative pre-trained transformers) into the educational process.
The introduction of Edtech in public education is a significant project for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho. In February, the Ministry of Education announced their goal to “realize customized education through Edtech”. Subsequently, in June, they introduced a plan to promote AI digital textbooks. The Ministry stated that although Korea possesses advanced digital technology and infrastructure, it has not been fully utilized for public education. Thus, their objective is to create a win-win ecosystem by actively supporting public education with technology and fostering the growth of the edtech industry.
According to the Edutech Promotion Plan, the Ministry of Education will initially focus on enhancing the digital capabilities of teachers. The plan includes conducting extensive digital competence strengthening training for teachers in the second half of this year. Additionally, the ‘TOUCH Teacher Group’, a leading group of teachers assisting fellow educators in utilizing technology, will be increased from the current 400 to 2,000 by 2025. By 2024, an ‘EduTech information platform’ will be established, enabling teachers to experience Free EdTech and share evaluation information. Furthermore, vouchers will be provided, allowing free access to edtech, particularly through teacher research groups. The Ministry of Education is allocating a budget of approximately 3 billion won for these vouchers.
Moreover, the Ministry aims to foster collaboration between teachers and educational companies to plan and develop programs collectively. Through a ‘problem-solving educational technology project’, teachers and companies will work together to design, create models, and implement edtech applications. Professional educational teachers will provide consultations from a public education perspective to ensure careful consideration in the planning and development process. Based on these efforts, the Ministry intends to promote the export of the Korean edutech model overseas. They plan to create a new brand called ‘K-EduTech’ and showcase it at major exhibitions such as the Korean Wave Expo organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, as well as the K-Expo by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Additionally, the Ministry aims to elevate the education-related exhibition called ‘EduTech Korea Fair’ into the largest exhibition in Asia.
To support the edtech industry legally, the Ministry is in the process of enacting the ‘Teaching Promotion Act’ (tentative name). This law will encompass the definition and implementation of edutech policy, the cultivation of companies related to public education, and the collection and utilization of data. However, concerns have been raised about the full-scale introduction of edtech technology into school settings. Critics argue that the educational impact of edtech remains unclear, and there has not been sufficient societal discussion before its rapid implementation. The Good Teachers Movement emphasized the need to evaluate the impact of edtech on education before enacting laws to promote it. There are also concerns that public education may become a testing ground for private companies’ technological developments.
In response to the criticism, Park Seong-wook, policy director of the Korean Union of Teachers and Education Workers, expressed concerns about the official distribution of private technology within schools. He highlighted that public education is already burdened with guidelines for students’ behavioral issues and complaints from parents. Park fears that placing additional pressure on teachers by strengthening their digital capabilities may further exacerbate their workload.
Overall, the Ministry of Education’s plan to introduce Edutech at the government level carries both potential benefits and concerns. While the utilization of advanced technologies can enhance educational outcomes, there is a need for thorough evaluation and societal consensus to ensure the best interests of students and teachers are served.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho attends a press conference on the promotion of ‘Edutech (educational information technology)’ held at the international conference hall at the Seoul Government Complex annex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th and listen to the press representative’s comments. random news
The Ministry of Education is taking steps to introduce ‘Edutech’ at the government level by establishing a platform where students can experience cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) for free school education and conduct teacher training. The plan is to try to export the edtech industry abroad while also enacting related laws, but there are concerns in the education community that “the government is too hasty to introduce it in a situation where the educational impact is unclear and where there is not enough of social. discussion.” The Ministry of Education announced the ‘Edutech Promotion Plan’ with this content at the Emergency Economic Ministers Meeting and Export Investment Measures Meeting on the 18th. Edutech is a compound word of education and technology, and refers to technologies, products, and services that improve the effectiveness of learning by applying the latest artificial intelligence technologies such as digital textbooks or GPT to the educational process. The introduction of Edtech in public education is a key project of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho. In February, the Ministry of Education announced that it would “realize customized education through Edtech,” and in June introduced a plan to promote artificial intelligence (AI) digital textbooks. The Ministry of Education said, “Korea has a high level of digital technology and infrastructure, but does not use it for public education. We will create a win-win ecosystem so that educational entities can actively use technology and can the edtech industry to grow. by supporting public education.” It has been revealed. According to this plan, the Ministry of Education will first use edutech to strengthen the digital capabilities of teachers, which are the subjects of classes. Digital competence strengthening training for teachers will begin in earnest from the second half of this year, and the ‘TOUCH Teacher Group’, a leading group of teachers who help fellow teachers to use technology, will increase from the current 400 to 2,000 by 2025. The plan is to create an ‘EduTech information platform’ in 2024 so that teachers can experience Free EdTech and evaluation information sharing. It was also decided to provide vouchers to enable free use of edtech, especially through teacher research groups. An official from the Ministry of Education said, “We are reviewing the voucher budget at about 3 billion won. ” Beyond just using these technologies in classes, teachers and educational companies can plan and develop programs together. Teachers and companies form a team to run a ‘problem-solving educational technology project’ where the planning and development of edtech , establish models of use, and application are carried out. We intend to use professional educational teachers to provide consultation on considerations from a public education perspective in the educational planning and development process. Based on this, we will also promote the overseas export of the edutech model Korea. At the government level, we plan to establish a new brand called ‘K-EduTech’ and promote it through major exhibitions such as the Korean Wave Expo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the K-Expo of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism The Ministry of Education announced that it will also nurture the ‘EduTech Korea Fair’, an education-related exhibition currently held in Korea, into Asia’s largest exhibition. In addition, the plan is to help develop sales channels by involving related ministries, companies, and private associations in the ‘Edutech Export Support Council’ hosted by the Ministry of Education. In order to create a legal basis to support the edtech industry, we are also pushing for the enactment of the ‘Teaching Promotion Act’ (tentative name). The law is expected to include content on the system of defining and implementing edutech policy, fostering companies related to public education, and collecting and using data. Likewise, many voices are expressing concern about the full-scale introduction of edtech technology into school settings. The educational impact of edtech is still unclear and there has not been enough social discussion, but the presentation is being promoted too quickly. The Good Teachers Movement issued a statement that noted, “We have not yet begun to ask questions about what impact edtech digital textbooks and artificial intelligence will have on education,” and added, “We cannot start by enacting a law to promote edtech without social. consideration.” There is also criticism that public education is used as a testing ground for technological development in private companies. Park Seong-wook, policy director of the Korean Union of Teachers and Education Workers, said in a phone call with the Hankyoreh, “A network has been opened to officially distribute private technology within schools.” He added, “Public education is being used for the benefit of private companies and is already overloaded with guidelines for students with problem behavior and complaints from parents.” “I’m concerned that it seems to place another burden (strengthening digital capabilities) on teachers who are under pressure,” he said. Correspondent Kim Min-je summer@hani.co.kr
#Education #Society #News #Hankyoreh
