Abuja: An Educational Technologist, Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola, has revealed Google’s plan to train 6,000 teachers across Nigeria, emphasizing the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the educational sector.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Olurinola, from the Department of Science and Technology Education at Olabisi Onabanjo University, stated this during the opening of the training in Abuja. She highlighted that AI has the potential to transform teaching and learning, urging educators to leverage AI to create engaging and effective learning experiences for students.
Olurinola remarked on the digital skill gap that the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed among educators. She pointed out that the rise of AI in education adds a new layer of inequality, risking the widening of the existing skill gap. She noted that Nigeria’s educational landscape is at a pivotal juncture, where traditional teaching methods are being challenged by rapid technological advancements.
In a virtual address, Avishkar Bhoopchand, a Research Engineer at Google, emphasized the training’s aim to enhance teaching and learning experiences. Bhoopchand acknowledged the crucial role teachers play in shaping the future and mentioned Google’s commitment to providing tools and resources that empower educators to foster innovation and equity in education. He highlighted Google’s educational platforms, such as Google Classroom and Workspace for Education, which aim to expand access to digital literacy.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this five-week training program is designed to equip teachers from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria with AI skills and competencies.