The Digital World: What Teachers Need to Tell Their Students

We live in a digital world that is constantly changing and evolving. Students need to learn how to navigate and use this world effectively and responsibly. Teachers have a crucial role in guiding their students in various aspects of the digital world, such as:

Information sources: 

The internet is full of information, but not all of it is reliable or relevant. Students need to learn how to:

• Find different kinds of information for different purposes.
• Save and organise information for easy access and reuse.
• Distinguish between facts and opinions, and evaluate the credibility and accuracy of information.
• Think critically and creatively about information, and use it to solve problems or create new knowledge.

Learning avenues: 

The digital world offers many opportunities for learning, both formal and informal. Students need to learn how to:

• Take charge of their own learning process and set their own goals and strategies.
• Learn from different sources of information, such as books, videos, podcasts, games, etc.
• Identify what they need to learn and what they can ignore or skip.
• Develop skills, understandings, habits, and behaviours that support their learning.

Human spaces: 

The digital world enables people to connect and communicate with others across time and space. Students need to learn how to:

• Understand the relationship between physical and digital spaces and how they affect each other.
• Use digital tools wisely and efficiently, and avoid wasting time or resources.
• Use different devices and platforms for different purposes and contexts.
• Communicate effectively and respectfully in person and online, using appropriate language, tone, structure, etc.

Participation:

The digital world allows people to create and share their own content and opinions with others. Students need to learn how to:

• Remix, mash up, modify, or invent new media in ethical, legal, and compelling ways.
• Decide what to share with whom, when, where, and how, and respect the privacy and security of themselves and others.
• Contribute their expertise and perspectives to the digital world and recognise the value of diversity.
• Filter and sort the information they want from the abundance of information available online.

Publishing:

The digital world provides people with various platforms and channels to publish their work and reach a wider audience. Students need to learn how to:

• Use both physical and digital media for authentic purposes that matter to them and others.
• Choose the best format, style, mode, and medium for their message and audience
• Share their work with different groups of people, such as friends, family, community, or the world
• Receive feedback from others and use it to improve their work

Connecting with experts:

The digital world connects people with experts from different fields and domains. Students need to learn how to:

• Identify and contact true experts who have knowledge, experience, or skills that they need or want.
• Understand the role of generalists, who have broad knowledge across disciplines, versus specialists, who have deep knowledge in specific areas
• Know when to seek expertise from different sources, such as peers, teachers, professionals, or academics
• Listen with curiosity and respect to experts’ opinions and advice

The self: 

The digital world affects people’s sense of self and identity. Students need to learn how to:

• Identify and maintain important personal and social relationships in both physical and digital spaces.
• Prioritise their ideas, resources, and connections according to their needs and goals
• Monitor and manage their attention span; practise mindfulness techniques
• Choose the right scale for their work; think locally or globally, depending on the situation
• Recognise patterns, niches, and opportunities in the digital world; pursue them based on their interests

In conclusion, there is no perfect formula for teaching students about the digital world. Teachers have to be honest with themselves and their students about what they know or don’t know. They also have to keep learning new things as the digital world changes. By doing so, they can help their students become successful learners in the 21st century.