Intel® Education Initiative with support from School Education Department, Punjab, has been striving to prepare students to utilize technology in teaching and learning and to make available access to digital content, and providing different types of activities and opportunities, to enable them to create and share knowledge. Students and teachers of public sector institutions in Punjab welcomed the “Technology Week” held from 2nd January to 10th January, 2012, which was organized in collaboration with School Education Department, Punjab and Intel Education Initiative. 30 Schools and more than 3000 students of grades 6, 7 & 8 participated and did wonderful things with technology and digital learning in their classrooms. Secretary, School Education Department, Government of Punjab, Mr. Aslam Kamboh in his message encouraged and motivated teachers and students by saying, “ICT infusion shall bridge the digital divide amongst students of public and private sector and the Government of Punjab is striving hard to achieve this goal”.

The work of these students and teachers was showcased at a befitting ceremony on the international “Digital Learning Day” on February 1, 2012, where awards were distributed among the best work submitted in following categories;

In the Presentation Category:
Ms. Irum and her students from City District Government Girls High School, Wahdat Colony, Lahore

In the Blogging Category:
First Prize - Ms. Huma Butt and Ms. Samina Kausar and their students from Government Girls High School, Walton, Lahore

Second Prize - Ms Riffat Mushtaq and her students from Government Girls High School, Rangers Colony, Lahore Cantt

In the use of Most Innovative Methods Category:
Ms. Firdous Anjum from Government Girls Comprehensive School, Lahore

While 1st February, 2012 is being recognized globally as the “Digital Learning Day”, Intel® Education Initiative, Pakistan organized the first-ever “Digital Learning Day” in Pakistan. School Education Department, Government of Punjab with Intel Education Initiative Pakistan celebrated this day to acknowledge innovative teaching practices that make learning more personalized and engaging and to encourage exploration of how digital learning can provide students with more opportunities to ensure that they are prepared to succeed in college, a career, and life.

Through their work and by hosting a “Digital Learning Day”, striving to highlight what many teachers and students are already doing, what is possible for teachers by integrating digital learning into the instruction, and what is needed to take advantage of the possibilities of digital learning for students. Through this day, teachers and students are encouraged for innovative use of technology by trying something new, showcasing success, kicking off project-based learning, or focusing on how digital tools can help improve student outcomes.

The Chief Guest, Mr. Ali Hussain Malik, Additional Secretary, School Education Department, Punjab while addressing the audience said, “Education has two purposes, one is to produce good citizens while the other is to produce competitive workforce for tomorrow, which we can only do and achieve by enabling students to utilize technology more effectively”.

The showcasing actually meant to highlight some of those teachers who are ahead of this wave of innovation in their classrooms. Demonstrating how they use technology in the classroom with a specific emphasis on the connection between literacy and technology. Incorporating technology not only enables to impart a high level of information in a short period of time, but it also gives students with varying abilities a chance to shine.