UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers

When considering pedagogy and technology, the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for teachers is worth exploring. This framework was created to support the smooth implementation and development of technology in schools. It is a framework that encompasses all aspects of learning and technology, from understanding the role of ICT in education to considering teachers’ professional learning.

The framework breaks each idea (including pedagogy) into three elements: Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Deepening, and Knowledge Creation.

In this next section, we will look at what the goals and teacher competencies relating to pedagogy look like for each element.

Knowledge Acquisition:

• Goal – ICT Enhance Teaching: Teachers integrate technologies, tools, and digital content to support teaching.
• Teacher competency: Teachers use appropriate ICT to support specific teaching and learning methodologies.

Knowledge Deepening:

• Goal – Complex problem solving: In collaborative project based learning, pupils explore a subject deeply and bring their knowledge to bear on complex, everyday issues and problems.
• Teacher competency: Design ICT-supported project-based learning activities and use ICT to facilitate students to create, implement and monitor project plans, and solve complex problems

 Knowledge Creation:

• Goal – Self-management: Self-management. Students work in a learning community in which they are continually engaged in creating knowledge products and building upon their own and one another’s knowledge and skills
• Teacher competency: While determining learning parameters, encourage student self-management in student-centred and collaborative learning.

Source: ICT Competency Framework

The full framework gives some interesting insights into the considerations that should be made when implementing technology in schools.