Digital Learning: Embracing the Opportunities for Teachers

Today’s students are often called “digital-age learners”— reflecting their technological savvy and free-agent approach to learning. With their iPods, iPhones, computer games, social media pages, and text messaging, these digital-age students have access to resources and knowledge beyond traditional school structures and practices. These students are “less dependent upon traditional education institutions for knowledge acquisition and are much more self-reliant, exercising their internet-based skills to aggregate data and information.”

These evolving student characteristics and the increased presence of technology and digital resources certainly provide challenges for schools as they work to adapt and embrace this rapidly changing environment. Issues like access and resources, teacher training and professional development, and structures and delivery methods must be addressed. However, the digital learning era also provides great opportunity to help schools advance student learning and acquire 21st century skills.