Kim Blanchard, Group Head of Digital Education Development and AI
Have you ever asked yourself how much technology should be used in education? Here, I wanted to explore the recent shift by Sweden to reintroduce books and pencils into classrooms, comparing it to the UK’s ongoing investment in edtech, while highlighting Activate Learning’s innovative and inclusive digital strategy.
Sweden: returning to tradition
Sweden has recently made headlines by bringing physical textbooks and handwritten notes back into classrooms. This move aims to address concerns about declining cognitive engagement, attention spans, and literacy skills identified in assessments such as PIRLS. Swedish educators argue that traditional learning tools facilitate deeper cognitive processing, critical thinking, and the development of fine motor skills, which digital tools might inadvertently sideline. However, this shift does not dismiss digital technology outright but rather advocates a balanced integration, ensuring that technology complements traditional educational practices. At Activate Learning we want to foster a spirit of curiosity with new technologies and ensure they are embraced in a meaningful way.
UK: advancing digital literacy
As the UK continues to embrace a strong digital-first approach, the government has committed substantial resources to bridging the digital divide, investing significantly in improving digital infrastructure in educational institutions. Additionally, considerable funding has been allocated to developing AI-driven educational tools aimed at enhancing teaching and learning, particularly focusing on reducing teacher workloads and standardising learner feedback. These actions underscore the UK’s strategic vision for equipping students with essential digital skills necessary for future employment and participation in a technology-driven society.
Activate Learning: leading digital inclusion and ethical AI
Activate Learning stands out within the UK’s educational landscape by prioritising digital inclusion and accessibility in its educational model. Its award-winning online programmes are specifically designed to remove traditional barriers, ensuring learners have access to education anytime, anywhere, and from any device.
Central to Activate Learning’s strategy is the innovative use of the AI Feedback Assistant. This tool supports educators in providing personalised, timely, and consistent feedback, significantly enhancing the learner experience. Curriculum Lead Joe Cranney highlighted its benefits in a recent presentation to Ofqual Chief Regulator Sir Ian Bauckham: “The AI Feedback Assistant ensures my feedback maintains consistently high quality from the first learner to the last, allowing me to focus more effectively on personalised interactions.”
Crucially, Activate Learning’s approach addresses national educational priorities by reducing administrative tasks, promoting teacher wellbeing, and addressing issues of burnout and retention. The AI integration at Activate Learning is deliberately human-centric and ethical, ensuring technology augments rather than replaces the critical human element in teaching and learning.
Implications for further education
The contrasting approaches of Sweden and the UK highlight significant considerations for FE colleges and educational policymakers. Sweden’s caution reminds us of the importance of traditional learning tools in fostering cognitive development, while the UK’s proactive approach underscores the need to ensure students are digitally equipped for modern society.
For FE colleges, the strategic question revolves around finding an optimal balance tailored to their learners’ diverse needs. With millions of adults in the UK lacking essential digital skills, initiatives like Activate Learning’s are critical for closing this skills gap and ensuring equitable access to digital learning. The strategic importance of digital inclusion extends beyond education, directly impacting employability and economic participation.
Addressing challenges and ensuring ethical use
While digital tools offer substantial educational benefits, their integration must be managed responsibly to avoid pitfalls such as excessive screen time, privacy concerns, and unequal access. Activate Learning proactively addresses these challenges through its AI Position Statement, promoting ethical AI use and digital literacy among learners and educators alike. This structured approach ensures technology aligns with educational goals without compromising standards and ethics.
Striking the right balance
The differing paths taken by Sweden and the UK underline a vital lesson: the effective integration of technology in education is about balance. Activate Learning exemplifies this balanced approach, demonstrating how technology can significantly enhance education without undermining traditional pedagogical strengths.
Ultimately, the question for FE educators is not whether to use technology, but how best to integrate it thoughtfully and effectively. Activate Learning’s success offers a compelling model, highlighting how blending traditional methods with innovative technology can deliver rich, inclusive, and human-centred educational experiences.
By embracing this blended model, FE colleges can lead the way in creating education that is both technologically advanced and at the same time human, preparing learners effectively for the future.