Microsoft holds Digital Age workshop
Microsoft Sri Lanka recently held a workshop titled ‘ Transforming Education for the Digital Age’ at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Moratuwa, co-host of the event.
The interactive workshop was held with the intention of educating the key stakeholders on the latest solutions in information communication technology (ICT) education.
Another initiative under Microsoft’s ‘Partners in Learning for Schools’ programme, the workshop provided instructional guidance and informed about access tools to acquire ICT industry recognised skills that promote innovative teaching and learning practices.
“With changes to be introduced to the local higher education delivery system, particularly in terms of promoting a student-centred learn- ing structure that involves digital technologies as opposed to the current trend of being dependent on text books and learning material, a digital – education partnership can bring about significant results in transforming the ICT education landscape in Sri Lanka,” remarked Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake, who was the chief guest at the event.
The Partners in Lear ning for Schools programme inspires leaders to develop best practices in increasing the level of innovation in their respective schools/institutions, with a view to creating a collaborative community of like-minded educators which will in turn help to develop better models that would assist students to develop. The programme is in line with Microsoft’s overall vision to redefine and nurture the ICT landscape in Sri Lanka.
There were several interactive sessions conducted at the workshop, by pioneer IT personalities representing Microsoft Sri Lanka, who covered a range of topics on communication and collaboration in education using advanced programmes such as Windows 8, while subjects such as Microsoft Licensing Solutions/IT Academy and Student Certifications, Intellectual property rights, MIS for Education, Education Solutions by Dell, Creating a Knowledge Economy through ICT, App development were covered. Benefits available to students through Microsoft’s DreamSpark and YouthSpark programmes were also discussion points.
Kotelawala Defence University VC Major General Milinda Pieris, who also spoke at the event, said that elevating the country’s tertiary education to be on par with the developing world is of paramount importance and in this context, it is important for everyone to be ICT savvy.