VOA慢速：联合国报告应谨慎使用教育技术
UN Report: Education Technology Should Be Used Carefully
刘立军 供稿
TRANSCRIPT
The COVID-19 pandemic showed how useful digital technology could be for schools. But it also showed the limitations of technology in the educational setting. Millions of students were able to attend classes online to avoid spreading the virus. But many students failed to learn by such methods. Their educational progress slowed and in some cases went backwards.
Digital tools and the internet have made it easier for students to access educational resources. However, a large number of schools around the world remain unconnected to the internet. Additionally, digital tools have entered markets that have no official supervision. Such educational products do not require any testing or proof as to their value to schools and learners.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) argues against unsupervised wide use of digital tools and AI in education. A recent UNESCO report says there is little evidence that wide technology use improves learning. The organization says digital educational tools can never replace the human connection of teacher and student.
Audrey Azoulay is UNESCO's Director General. She says there is a very large divide, or gap, between rich and poor countries when it comes to digital resources. Just 40 percent of primary schools worldwide have access to the internet, she said. Many schools also lack electricity, especially in Africa and Central and Southern Asia. In sub-Saharan Africa, just 32 percent of schools have electricity.
And, internationally, about one-third of students were unable to attend online classes during the pandemic.
"Even if connectivity was universal, it would still be necessary to demonstrate that digital technology offers real added value in terms of effective learning," the report says.
Often, technology changes faster than it is possible to study it, the report says. Educational technology products change every three years on average. In Britain, for example, just seven percent of educational technology companies had done studies to judge the effectiveness of their products.
UNESCO also reported that many companies pay for studies on the effectiveness of their own product. These studies are not independent examinations.
Pearson, an education technology company, has a tool called Successmaker for teaching math and reading. Independent studies show the tool has little or negative effectiveness in learning. But the company stands by the results of the private study it paid for. That study found the product very helpful for learning.
UNESCO says such companies need to be better regulated. Azoulay said just 14 percent of countries require data protection in education.
"Students‘ data should not be used by education technology or advertising technology companies for marketing purposes," the report says. Yet a study of 163 products found that 89 percent of them gathered student data and sent them to third-party companies, often for advertising purposes. This usually happened without the student or parent knowing, the study said.
UNESCO argues that technology holds great possibilities for education. But studies have shown that educational technologies are most effective when a teacher is involved in the instructional process.
"We must never forget the social and emotional dimensions of teaching and learning," Azoulay said, adding, "no screen will ever replace a teacher."
I'm Dan Novak.
VOCABULARY
1. additionally adv. 另外，此外
2. supervision n. 监督, 管理
QUESTIONS
Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
1. What did the COVID-19 pandemic reveal about digital technology in schools?
A. It is essential for modern education.
B. It solely improves educational outcomes.
C. It has its limitations in educational settings.
D. It completely replaces traditional teaching methods.
2. According to the UNESCO report, what is lacking in the evaluation of digital educational tools?
A. Any official supervision.
B. Commercial marketing strategies.
C. Basic functionalities for learning.
D. Technological advancements.
3. How many primary schools worldwide have access to the internet according to Audrey Azoulay?
A. 14 percent.
B. 32 percent.
C. 40 percent.
D. 89 percent.
4. What does the report suggest about studies paid for by companies on their own products?
A. They are always independent examinations.
B. They show that products are universally effective.
C. They lack objectivity and independence.
D. They are mandated by all countries.
5. Why does UNESCO emphasize the role of teachers in educational technologies?
A. Because technology updates too quickly.
B. Because teachers can be replaced by screens.
C. Because teachers add a social and emotional dimension to learning.
D. Because all studies favor teacher involvement.
KEY
1. What did the COVID-19 pandemic reveal about digital technology in schools?
A. It is essential for modern education.
B. It solely improves educational outcomes.
C. It has its limitations in educational settings.
D. It completely replaces traditional teaching methods.
【答案】C
【解析】细节题。命题出处是文本第一段，其中指出了数字技术在教育环境中的局限性。根据文本，“But it also showed the limitations of technology in the educational setting.”（但它也显示了技术在教育环境中的局限性），选项C概括了这个信息。
2. According to the UNESCO report, what is lacking in the evaluation of digital educational tools?
A. Any official supervision.
B. Commercial marketing strategies.
C. Basic functionalities for learning.
D. Technological advancements.
【答案】A
【解析】细节题。命题出处是文本第二段，里面提到数字工具进入市场但没有正式监管。根据文本，“Additionally, digital tools have entered markets that have no official supervision. Such educational products do not require any testing or proof as to their value to schools and learners.”，说明这些产品缺乏官方监督，因此答案为A。
3. How many primary schools worldwide have access to the internet according to Audrey Azoulay?
A. 14 percent.
B. 32 percent.
C. 40 percent.
D. 89 percent.
【答案】C
【解析】细节题。命题出处是文本中Audrey Azoulay的话，根据文本，“Just 40 percent of primary schools worldwide have access to the internet, she said.”（她说，全世界只有40%的小学可以接入互联网），直接表明全球有40%的小学可以接入互联网，故正确答案为C。
4. What does the report suggest about studies paid for by companies on their own products?
A. They are always independent examinations.
B. They show that products are universally effective.
C. They lack objectivity and independence.
D. They are mandated by all countries.
【答案】C
【解析】细节题。命题出处是文本中关于公司支付研究费用的部分。根据文本，“These studies are not independent examinations.”（这些研究不是独立的检查），可见这些由公司资助的研究缺乏客观性和独立性，选项C准确反映了这一点。
5. Why does UNESCO emphasize the role of teachers in educational technologies?
A. Because technology updates too quickly.
B. Because teachers can be replaced by screens.
C. Because teachers add a social and emotional dimension to learning.
D. Because all studies favor teacher involvement.
【答案】C
【解析】推理题。命题出处是文本最后一段Audrey Azoulay的话。根据文本，“We must never forget the social and emotional dimensions of teaching and learning,”Azoulay said, adding, "no screen will ever replace a teacher."（我们永远不应忘记教学的社会和情感维度，” Azoulay还补充说，“没有任何屏幕能够替代老师。”），可以推断UNESCO强调教师在教育技术中的作用，因为教师会为学习过程带来社会和情感维度，所以答案为C。
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