UK education must think “internet-first”

22.06.2011

Digital skills are vital for both education and employment, according to the Government’s Digital Champion, Martha Lane Fox.

Writing in the Guardian, Fox argues that technology can transform people’s experiences of education, and that educators must think “internet first” to ensure that those they teach possess the relevant skills for employment.

Speaking of the Race Online 2012 program, a scheme that aims make the UK the first nation in the world in which the entire population is internet-literate, Lane said: “"We know that you're 25 per cent more likely to get work when you have web skills, and, once in that job, you'll earn 10 per cent more."

According to Fox, technology enables students to take charge of their own learning. She continued: "The clever use of technology lets students study at their own pace, using interactive, collaborative, conversational teaching modules, supported by teachers who can tailor their support to individuals' needs."

Fox expressed her concern that the UK lags behind India and the US in using the internet to tackle educational inequality. She concluded: “This is not about wiring up more classrooms, but about rewiring our brains to think internet-first in education, so we realise the opportunity to reinvent our institutions of learning for the modern age."

ICT charging and management specialist, LapSafe® Products, has always supported educators looking to use the internet to make learning more dynamic. The company was the first manufacturer to introduce internet-ready laptop charging trolleys and laptop charging carts into schools throughout the UK and has lead the market ever since.

LapSafe® Products has the most comprehensive range of laptop trolleys and laptop carts on the market today, including low cost laptop charging trolleys with wireless access.

Sources: Guardian, PublicService.co.uk