Digital training for better-prepared citizens begins in schools
The Connected Smart Cities 2022 Ranking shows that Curitiba (PR) was considered the smartest city in Brazil, but ranks 21st in the "Education" category. São Caetano do Sul (SP) leads in "Education," but ranks 26th in "Technology and Innovation." The contrasting results of these two benchmark cities in the country show that education is not necessarily connected to technology to leverage digital literacy in our country.
More than just encouraging innovation policies, a smart city is one that effectively manages public services, promoting citizen participation with the help of digital resources.
This work and change in mindset require a major effort by cities across the country to renew and improve the quality of education, starting from the ground up and including content that is relevant to society in order to face the challenges and opportunities of the new technological wave. In this sense, investment in technologies for education is increasingly necessary.
And this investment must begin with basic education. Combined with technological education and digital literacy, the Interactive Digital Table is a customized touchscreen computer device with educational functions, accessibility, digital inclusion, and the capacity for simultaneous use by up to six children, supplied with more than 500 educational games installed.
With a variety of educational apps and games, Mesinha Digital enables teachers to innovate in their teaching practices, integrating digital resources to enrich lessons, make learning more meaningful, and promote digital literacy. In addition, it is a valuable tool for continuing teacher education, offering training and capacity building for the effective use of educational technology in the classroom.
New technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things, and the various uses of Artificial Intelligence enable increased productivity and efficiency in public management, with resources being better utilized. And all of this can be present in school classrooms.
Investing in technology in education enables the training of citizens who are better prepared to face the challenges of the modern world. Students have the opportunity to develop digital skills, critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability, which are essential characteristics in a smart city.
For Joselane Pereira Freitas de Souza, Secretary of Education in Paraibano (MA), a city that has been using the tables for a semester, the assisted technology resource "has become a source of inspiration for education professionals and a promising recreational resource in the educational process of the children assisted."
According to the National Curriculum Guidelines for Basic Education, students were born in the digital age. Information technologies are part of the ongoing process of technological development, starting with chalk and books. The use of the Digital Table as an interactive and multidisciplinary resource promotes an important tool for interaction and enjoyable socialization experiences between students and teachers, enabling contact with diverse teaching content in a playful way," reports Joselane.
Adaptable tool
The use of the Android operating system facilitates the integration of different resources, such as games, interactive activities, educational materials, and applications that cover various areas of knowledge and optimize the strategic planning of municipal education departments. This flexibility allows Mesinha Digital to be applied in various educational contexts, from early childhood education to elementary school, adapting to different age groups and student needs.
The system also enables Mesinha Digital to remain up to date, meeting current educational challenges and demands, while keeping pace with future innovations in technology and education.