A daylong international workshop titled EdTech Futures: Bridging Innovation and Impact in Bangladesh has recently been held at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka recently.
The workshop explored the innovative use of technology and its impact on the education sector in Bangladesh, said a press release on Wednesday.
Organised under the theme 鈥榚mpowering learning through technology: from classrooms to policy rooms鈥�, the workshop brought together academics, researchers, policymakers and development professionals from both home and abroad.
The core objective of the workshop was to create a collaborative platform to discuss research evidence, practical experiences and policy directions related to technology-based education initiatives in Bangladesh.
In the first session, researchers presented findings from various intervention-based studies focused on technology-driven education conducted in the different context of Bangladesh.
The session was chaired by Professor Atonu Rabbani of the University of Dhaka.
Key presentations were delivered by Professor Abu S Shonchoy of Florida International University; Professor Christine Ho of the London School of Economics; and Professor Tomoki Fujii of Singapore Management University.
The studies addressed several critical themes, including the impact of sending high-frequency educational information via mobile phones to marginalised students, which led to significant improvements in study habits and exam preparation.
One study highlighted that even low-touch interventions, such as regular information sharing, contributed to a substantial increase in students鈥� study time.
Another study revealed that motivational messaging based on relevant information may be more effective than direct cash incentives in encouraging school attendance.
The session also included evidence from a randomised field experiment, showing how conditional cash transfers during lean seasons could help offset the adverse effects of seasonal labour migration and support continuous schooling.
The second part of the workshop featured the session titled Policy and Partnership for EdTech with participation from national policymakers and education experts.
The session was chaired by Professor Ahsan Habib of the University of Dhaka.
Professor Abu S Shonchoy presented a paper titled 鈥楲ogging In, Tuning Out? How Capacity Shapes Compliance and Substitution in EdTech鈥�.
Following this, a high-level roundtable titled The Future of Education and Technology in Bangladesh Participants was held, moderated by Professor Rubaiya Murshed of the University of Dhaka.
The workshop was jointly organised by the London School of Economics, Florida International University, Singapore Management University, Oxford Policy Management, the University of Dhaka and the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.
The development and research organisation 鈥楳OMODa FOUNDATION鈥� played a leading role in coordinating and hosting the event.