Welcome to a special episode on how to better choose EdTech solutions. Today, we're discussing the development and use of Tulna, an innovative tool that was created through a partnership between the Educational Technology department at IIT Bombay and the Central Square Foundation (CSF) in India. Tulna provides a framework to help governments choose better EdTech solutions. Join Juan Barón, Senior Economist at the World Bank, and Haani Mazari, Global Country Engagement Lead for Asia at the...

Welcome to a special episode of our new series that puts youth voices front and center. Today, we're discussing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education and employment from the perspective of students. This conversation is particularly relevant as the World Bank's EdTech team focuses on leveraging technology to improve education, bringing students essential digital skills for the future, especially in light of emerging technologies like AI. Join Robert Hawkins, Global Lead for Technology...

In today's episode, we will explore how the World Bank and the Mastercard Foundation are joining efforts to tackle challenges and seize opportunities in Africa's evolving EdTech landscape, with a focus on engaging the broader ecosystem. Join us as we discuss the innovative and inspiring approaches across different countries to navigate this dynamic reality, guiding youth towards a better education and employment prospects.   Robert Hawkins, Global Lead for Technology and Innovation in...

In today's episode, we will explore the complexities of teaching digital and 21st-century skills in emerging markets. We'll delve into how technology can redefine traditional classroom boundaries, examining its potential to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. We'll discuss the importance of digital and data literacies, along with computational thinking, in preparing students for the future.  Cristóbal Cobo, Senior Education Technology Specialist at the World Bank, speaks...

Today, on the occasion of International Women’s Day theme for 2024 'Invest in Women, Accelerate progress,' we explore the critical importance of STEM education and careers, drawing insights from a recent report: 'Engendering STEM Access in Education and Careers in South Asia’ to improve female labor force participation. María Barrón, Research Analyst and Core Member of the World Bank EdTech Team, explores with Luis Benveniste, Global Director for Education at the World Bank, and Nicole...

In this new episode, 'Cultivating Critical Thinking in an AI World', hosted by Cristobal Cobo, Senior Education & Technology Specialist at the World Bank, we venture into the world of GenAI with key considerations for policymakers and educators, and critical thinking as a core value. Guests include Mike Trucano, Senior Education & Technology Policy Specialist, and longtime Global Lead for Innovation in Education at the World Bank; currently a Visting Fellow at the Brookings...

In today's episode, we will dive into a game-changing technology: Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), one of the most influential innovations of our time. We'll explore how GenAI could impact education, with a special focus on inclusion. Cristóbal Cobo, Senior Education Technology Specialist at the World Bank, speaks with Jamie Alexandre, Learning Equality's Co-founder and Executive Director; Paul Atherton, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Fab Inc.; and Robert Hawkins, World...

In today's episode, we will discover the transformative impact of Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT), a pioneering initiative revolutionizing early grade reading and numeracy in Malawi.    Robert Hawkins, Global Lead for Technology and Innovation in Education at the World Bank, speaks with Joshua Valeta, Director of Open Distance and e-Learning (ODeL), in the Ministry of Education in Malawi, Antoine Chigeda, Executive Director of Imagine Malawi, and Joe...

In today's special episode, we start off the year taking a deep dive into our journey as the EdTech team. We will discuss the team's evolution over time, drawing insights from the experiences of a recently departed member and the perspectives of a newcomer. Bob Hawkins, Global Lead of Technology and Innovation in Education at the World Bank, engages in a conversation with Education Specialist Iñaki Sánchez Ciarrusta as he prepares to leave the team after over four years, and with Lucía...

In today's episode, we discuss the vast possibilities of digital public infrastructure (DPI), to address global challenges in education and beyond. Bob Hawkins, Global Lead for Technology and Innovation in Education at the World Bank, reflects with Dr. Pramod Varma, CTO of the EkStep Foundation and former Chief Architect of Aadhaar and India Stack, on the use of this technology approach to tackle complex societal issues at scale, including how to successfully build a digital backbone for...

In today's episode, we discuss the promises and challenges of EdTech interventions in East Asia and Pacific countries, including the scale, dosage, and heterogeneity of impact to evaluate interventions, and how they can be applied both in the region and globally. Cristóbal Cobo (Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank EdTech team) speaks with Noah Yarrow (Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank), Cody Abbey (World Bank Consultant and PhD Psychology Student at Stanford...

¿Cómo emplear la tecnología en los procesos de aprendizaje para fortalecer el carácter de los jóvenes y ayudarles a desarrollar habilidades como la empatía, la perseverancia, la gratitud o la generosidad? ¿Qué podemos aprender de las técnicas utilizadas hasta ahora? En el episodio de esta semana, exploramos esas cuestiones a través de un exitoso proyecto implementado por el Banco Mundial en Honduras en colaboración con World Vision. Gracias a este programa, 1200 jóvenes lograron "mejorar su...

Today, we explore whether virtual and XR laboratories are an option to give students in developing countries pedagogical experiences necessary to develop practical skills. Hallie Applebaum (World Bank) speaks with Robert Dean (Associate Professor of Motion Arts Design and Virtual/Augmented Reality at Namseoul University in Korea), Jimmy Vainstein (Senior Program Manager leading the Word Bank’s program on interactive media with a focus on developing XR solutions for development), Marjorie...

Today, our World Bank EdTech team's Robert Hawkins and Cristóbal Cobo speak with the EdTech Hub, a joint initiative of the World Bank, UNICEF, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to do academic research about the role of technology in education. We previously spoke with the EdTech Hub's Tom Kaye, Global Country Engagement Lead, and Haani Mazari, Pakistan and Bangladesh Country Lead, about the organization's work. You can listen to that episode...

Teachers play a critical role in the introduction of adaptive learning, and technology in general, in public education systems. Today, World Bank Senior Economist Juan Baron speaks with Amy Bellinger (Education Commission), Haani Mazari (EdTech Hub), and Sophia D'Angelo (World Bank) discuss the role of teachers in delivering personalized learning at scale and how adaptive learning can help teachers in enhancing student learning.  Learn more about the team's work...

Our World Bank EdTech team is preparing to launch the next iteration of our EdTech Policy Academy and we'll have several Francophone countries joining us. To be a resource for our participants, today's episode is in French. Our EdTech Policy Academy is a four-week hands-on clinic to engage policymakers and educators in conversations about navigating solutions to close educational gaps and prevent learning loss. This is the fourth iteration of the Academy and today four instructors from our...

Today, we're speaking about the implementation of edtech in Korea. Korea has a world-class national digital education agency that oversees the implementation of EdTech in Korea. It's called Korea Education and Research Information Services, or KERIS. KERIS was developed to introduce innovative practices within the Korean education system, such as the cyber home learning system. Today, World Bank EdTech Analyst Changha Lee speaks with Chief Sangwoon Kim, Research Fellow Mr. Min Kim, and Senior...

In March 2021, Cristobal Cobo, Senior Education Technology Specialist at the World Bank, spoke with Amy Klement, Managing Partner of Imaginable Futures, and Sergio Venegas Marin, Young Professional at the World Bank Education Global Practice, about monitoring countries' readiness to support education with digital technologies and the EdTech Readiness Index (ETRI). You can listen to the episode at https://open.spotify.com/episode/4bgdOg3h6xXnOypKPTQTxu. Today, we are continuing the...

As we enter a new year, our EdTech team has been discussing what we think will be some of the most common and challenging questions for 2023. Today, our team - Robert Hawkins, Alex Twinomugisha, Cristobal Cobo, and Maria Barron - explores five questions for 2023: What skills do youth need for employment and what role does technology play to accelerate development of these skills?  A few anticipated areas of engagement include use of existing competency frameworks and relevance to...

Today, we're continuing our conversation about adaptive, personalized learning. On June 14, Juan Baron, Senior Economist in the World Bank's Education Global Practice, hosted a World Bank EduTech Podcast episode with Whizz Education and Educational Initiatives about their experience running companies focused on adaptive, personalized learning. They discussed how gain political will, access the technology, and implement programs. Listen on Apple and Spotify. On today's episode, Juan Baron...

On our last episode, World Bank Senior Education and Technology Specialist Cristobal Cobo spoke with the Director of the MIT-wide Initiative on Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (raise.mit.edu), Cynthia Breazeal, about RAISE and its Day of AI (https://www.dayofai.org), which seeks to engage K-12 students in a series of freely available hands-on activities designed to introduce them to AI and how it plays a part of their lives today. This week, Cristobal Cobo speaks with Day...

The World Bank EduTech team is partnering with Digital Promise and AIEngage.org to host a series of episodes about AI in Education. This week, we're exploring opportunities to advance access and inclusivity in AI education to people of all ages and backgrounds with a focus on K12 and the workforce. World Bank Senior Education and Technology Specialist Cristobal Cobo speaks with the Director of the MIT-wide Initiative on Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education...

World Bank Senior Education Specialist Robert Hawkins speaks about leveraging blockchain technologies and Web3 in education with Carissa Carter, Academic Director at the Stanford d.school (https://dschool.stanford.edu), and John Goodwin, former LEGO Foundation CEO, and now Executive Chairman of the Learning Economy Foundation (https://www.learningeconomy.io). This is part two of a two-part conversation.  Our World Bank EdTech team has hosted several Blockchain for Education online workshops....

World Bank Senior Education Specialist Robert Hawkins speaks about leveraging blockchain technologies and Web3 in education with Carissa Carter, Academic Director at the Stanford d.school (https://dschool.stanford.edu), and John Goodwin, former LEGO Foundation CEO, and now Executive Chairman of the Learning Economy Foundation (https://www.learningeconomy.io). Our World Bank EdTech team has hosted several Blockchain for Education online workshops. You can watch these workshops at...