Spotlight Stage
An Ed-Tech Tragedy?
Date Thursday, Nov 23 Time –
Join a fast-paced exchange with the author of UNESCO’s just-released book An Ed-Tech Tragedy? about ed-tech experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview format, David Hollow, Research Director at the EdTech Hub, will ask Mark West about findings and lessons from UNESCO’s 650-page analysis of what happened when technology became the backbone of education during periods of school closures.
The discussion will examine how pandemic modes of learning have rippled into the present and their implications for the future of teaching and learning. It will further unpack (and interrogate!) the book’s premise that the experiences should be framed and remembered as an ‘ed-tech tragedy’.
Like the UNESCO book, the interview will be organised across three ‘acts’. Audience members will be invited to pose questions and make comments. The exchange will touch on the book’s many topics and look closely at issues of inclusion, equity, health, surveillance, privatization, control, resilience and environmental sustainability.
Whether participants agree or disagree with the UNESCO analysis, all will walk away with new ideas about the legacy of technology-first responses to the challenges of the pandemic.
Join the session to resee and reassess what occurred with education and technology during the turbulent period of the pandemic and what it portends for the future.
Mark West
Education Specialist, UNESCO, France
Mark West works in UNESCO’s Education Sector, where he examines how technology can improve the quality, equity, and accessibility of learning.
He is currently leading a project to develop a Global Declaration on Connectivity for Education and authoring a UNESCO report called ‘An Ed-Tech Tragedy’ about lessons learned following the global shift from school-based education to technology-based education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He is also active in outlining guidance to make digital solutions more inclusive for people with low literacy skills, helping governments enact policies and practices to ensure that women and girls develop strong digital skills, and reviewing educational innovations. He has written extensively about technology and education, and his most recent publication, ‘I’d Blush if I Could’, led Apple and other technology companies to make major changes to the way Siri and other AI assistants project gender.
Prior to joining UNESCO in 2011, Mr. West researched education in Azerbaijan as a Fulbright Fellow and worked as a teacher and teacher trainer in the United States. He is a graduate of Stanford University.
Moderator
David Hollow
Leader of Jigsaw Education and Research Director of EdTech Hub, United Kingdom
David leads Jigsaw Education, an independent education research organisation focused on low-income countries with specialisms in EdTech, climate education and refugee education. He is also the Research Director at EdTech Hub, a global movement working for an evidence-driven future in EdTech. He has worked in over 25 countries, helping governments, donors and NGOs to use evidence to bring about lasting change in education. David holds a PhD from the University of London (2010) and serves on various boards, including for Refugee Education UK.