Realizing the benefits of technology in the classroom, Microsoft is supporting the digital transformation of the country’s education sector through the creation of digital learning tools that can empower students, including those with special needs, to make them future-ready.
IMAGE BY MATTSKOGEN FROM PIXABAY.COM
According to Bertrand Launay, managing director of Microsoft Philippines, Microsoft is developing technology that recognizes the diversity in learning and has created tools that empower all students. This approach to digital transformation is said to provide an immersive and inclusive learning experience for students, and help these learners and teachers in sharing information.
The Department of Education (DepEd) needs to be able to harness the power of technology to engage all students, including those with special needs, and even teachers to prepare them for the future. Currently, the Philippines has 25.4-million learners and over 700,000 teachers.
In the recent Mirosoft Asia Digital Transformation Study conducted in C-level leaders in 13 markets in Asia, 87% of decision makers agree that every educational institutions needs to transform into a digital and data business to enable future growth.
Launay cited the digital transformation programs of Microsoft which aims to raise the technology literacy of students as well as teachers in the Philippines. These include engaging students through the DepEd computerization program; empowering educators through the Teacher Professional development programs; and optimizing institutions through classroom and location upgrades. He noted that they have identified 6,000 locations in the Philippines where there are no access in networks.
Apart from this, Microsoft launched a video that focuses on technology for the visually impaired, an example of Microsoft’s commitment to inclusive learning showing how students from Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) can gain important computer science skills that will help increase their employability opportunities. A non-governmental organization (NGO), ATRIEV is a partner of Microsoft since 2008 in helping the blind and low vision be employable. To help visually impaired learners, the company has accessibility tools such as Audio Narrator to be utilized by students to use basic office productivity tools, computer programming and coding; and assistive technology that can transform a classroom to be 100% inclusive. Microsoft OneNote is another tool which helps improve the reading and writing experience of those with dyslexia. Language Translator and Skype can also be used as inclusive learning tools.
