Lee Hyung-se, CEO of Tekville Education, stated, 

"Teacher EdTech training is essential for the successful

implementation of 'Digital Textbooks,' 

which will be introduced in public education starting next year."

 

 

 

The development of cutting-edge technology is significantly transforming the educational landscape. Starting next year, students will begin using AI digital textbooks (AIDT) in classrooms. These paperless textbooks, equipped with various learning materials and support functions, leverage intelligent information technology to offer customized learning opportunities tailored to each student’s abilities and levels.

 

AIDT is part of the government’s three major educational reform initiatives, specifically focusing on digital education innovation, with the goal of introducing

AI textbooks across all subjects by 2028. Next year will mark the first global introduction of AIDT in subjects such as mathematics, English, information technology, and special Korean, for 3rd and 4th graders in elementary school, as well as 1st graders in middle and high school.

 

In future schools driven by digital transformation, teachers will play a central role. It is increasingly critical to train and support educators in effectively using advanced technologies and integrating the latest educational platforms into their teaching. Teachers who cannot effectively utilize EdTech platforms—including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR)—to make the most of AIDT may find themselves struggling to keep up in this rapidly evolving era.

 

One company that is quickly adapting to these changes and leading teacher training efforts is Tekville Education. As an EdTech company, Tekville Education is dedicated to strengthening teachers’ professional competencies in response to the ongoing digital transformation. The company offers teacher training programs, operates public education shopping platforms, and conducts research through its institutes, shaping the future of public education and driving the paradigm shift in the EdTech industry.

 

News Today visited Tekville Education’s booth at the 2024 Glocal Future Education Expo held at the Yeosu World Expo in Jeollanam-do on the 29th of last month. During the visit, representatives provided insights into the company’s cutting-edge EdTech innovations. Following this, CEO Lee Hyung-se was interviewed at Tekville Education's headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where he discussed the role of EdTech companies in the digital transformation era and shared his perspectives on the educational challenges that both the government and private sector need to address.

 

 

 

In the interview, CEO Lee explained, "Tekville Education is fully committed to establishing governance and enhancing the supply system for EdTech by leveraging private sector expertise. We aim to drive the growth of Korea's EdTech industry through continuous innovation and challenges that will advance public education using new technologies."

 

CEO Lee, a graduate of Sungkyunkwan University, founded Tekville Education in 2021. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Sogang University's Graduate School of Technology and Management, a director of the HRD Business Association of Korea, and a member of the e-learning industry development committee under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy. Since 2022, he has held the presidency of the Korea Digital Education Association and serves as a policy advisor for KERIS.

 

 

For his contributions to the e-learning industry, Lee has been recognized with several prestigious accolades, including the Iron Tower Industry Medal for Distinguished Service at the 2014 ICT Innovation Awards and the EdTech Management Innovation Award in 2019. Under his leadership at Tekville Education, he has also received the Minister of Education Award three times, as well as the Minister of Gender Equality and Outstanding Enterprise Award from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, solidifying his position as a leading figure in Korea's EdTech industry. 

Q: Please give a brief introduction of yourself.

A: Since founding Tekville Education in February 2001, the company has focused on public education projects, with e-learning as its core strength. Over the past 23 years, it has evolved from a teacher training center into an EdTech company, providing next-generation educational services that incorporate technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). These innovations are aimed at enhancing the professional competencies of elementary and secondary school teachers.

The interviewee, who has been deeply invested in the e-learning industry, took significant steps to advance the sector in Korea. In September 2002, he played a pivotal role in founding the Korea E-learning Industry Association, the first of its kind in the country. As the president of the association for three consecutive terms, he contributed to revitalizing the industry. Additionally, he led its transformation into the EdTech Industry Association, aligning the organization with the advancements of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

In 2022, he assumed the role of president at the Korea Digital Education Association, where he spearheaded efforts to integrate EdTech into schools, in line with the Ministry of Education’s digital education revolution. Under his leadership, the association has promoted several key initiatives, including e-learning globalization projects, domestic education fairs, teacher training programs, and research services. Furthermore, he established an EdTech Task Force (TF) that brings together private, government, and academic sectors to develop policies, systems, and strategies to advance the EdTech industry.

 

 

Q: What programs did you focus on at the booth during the expo?

A: At the EdTech Exhibition Hall, Tekville Education showcased a range of innovative services, including our Remote Education Training Institute, Teacherville, the teacher content platform, Ssamdongne, and the EdTech utilization platform, Chathess. One of the main focuses was the AIDT (AI Digital Textbook) teacher training project, which we heavily promoted. Teacherville highlighted its leadership role in this initiative, aimed at enhancing teachers' digital capabilities in preparation for the introduction of AI digital textbooks in 2025. Additionally, we provided tailored training consultations to help schools and teachers navigate this upcoming change.

We also demonstrated key features of Ssamdongne, including teacher-created content and collaborative spaces for educators, as well as our support for teacher creators. Chathess was featured as a platform for integrating EdTech into classrooms, with exclusive services that are accessible only through it. To complement this, we hosted a special mini-lecture in partnership with Edpuzzle, our recent collaborator, further showcasing how our platforms can enhance digital learning.

 

 

Q: How is the direction of teacher training evolving?

A: The rapid advancements in AI and digital transformation have significantly impacted society, particularly in public education. As digital education continues to evolve, teachers are required to learn new skills and adopt advanced technologies, which can be both an opportunity and a challenge. The need to master digital tools and learning platforms has increased, often adding to teachers' workloads. Therefore, teacher training must adapt to help educators navigate these changes and alleviate the difficulties they face.

Teacherville offers the largest selection of EdTech and digital education competency training programs among domestic institutions, focusing on addressing the specific needs of teachers.

Major programs include job training on how to use various EdTech tools, personalized training based on individual teacher interests, digital evaluation know-how, and practical digital tool training that can be directly applied in the classroom.

 

 

Q: What does Tekville Education do?

A: Tekville Education focuses on digital education projects centered around public education, offering a wide range of services that cater to educators, students, and parents. Its key initiatives include:

te (Teacherville): A teacher training program designed to strengthen the professional competencies of elementary, middle, and high school educators.

 

   ●   Teacherville Remote Education Training Institute (Teacherville): A teacher training program designed to strengthen the professional                       competencies of elementary, middle, and high school educators.

●   Teacher Mall: A specialized shopping platform for K-12 public education, offering educational resources and tools.

●   Chathess: A platform that supports the integration of EdTech tools into classroom teaching.

 

In addition, Tekville Education operates the EdTech Research Institute, an in-house research and development center focused on creating software-based educational services leveraging cutting-edge technologies.

Teacherville, Tekville’s flagship program, was established with the Ministry of Education's approval in 2002. It has since received the Minister of Education Award and has been recognized as an Outstanding Institution by the Korea Education and Academic Information Service for eight consecutive years, cementing its status as a leading educational training institute in Korea.

 

 

Q: What kind of work does the EdTech Research Institute do?

A: The EdTech Research Institute, an affiliate of Tekville Education, is revolutionizing the educational landscape by expanding into next-generation EdTech platforms, utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as Big Data, AI, VR, and AR. The institute focuses on researching, developing, and distributing content for various educational purposes, including disaster safety training, career exploration, and vocational training through VR and AR technologies. Notable projects include automobile maintenance training for Hyundai Motor's Cheonan Training Center and AMI installation and maintenance training for KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation).

By conducting research and development on EdTech platforms, the institute transforms resources—such as content, platforms, networks, and devices—into practical, serviceable products. It introduces smart education solutions for future learning environments. One of its flagship services is TELAS, an AI-powered learning data platform based on Software as a Service (SaaS). TELAS collects standardized learning data by integrating various sources through the xAPI (Experience API) standard and offers AI-driven learning analysis services through its SaaS platform.​

 

 

 

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