Technology not used to full potential in classrooms

13:06 29th January 2009

Although new technology is often present in classrooms, it is frequently not used to its full potential by teachers, according to teachers.tv.

The organisation, a free-to-air television channel for UK educators, said that it was devising new ways of facilitating the integration of new technology into lessons in ways that would enhance children's learning experiences.

Many schools remain unsure as to the extent to which technology can truly be employed in a constructive way in the classroom, but teachers.tv aims to eradicate concerns. Computer training could be one way of doing this.

Addressing delegates at Bett (British Education and Training Technology) 2009, Andrew Bethell, chief executive and creative director at teachers.tv, said: "Technology is driving education but not as quickly as everyone thinks it is. The reason for that is that we have lots and lots of exciting equipment, but what we are not so good at is using that equipment to teach."

Mr Bethell added that the organisation was working to improve the situation and familiarise more educators with the new systems available to them.

Nearly 29,000 people visited the Bett conference in mid-January.