Digital Literacy and Capacity

 

Digital Literacy and Capacity

 

The following factors were considered in the digital strategy.  

 

• Supporting a Professional Learning Community

In order to successfully integrate technology and effectively implement a digital strategy it is essential to promote a professional learning community with teaching staff.

According to Brown and Poortman (2018) a Professional Learning Community is any group who engages in collaborative learning with others outside of their everyday community of practice in order to improve teaching and learning.

The digital strategy will support a professional learning community by:

•  Providing advice and guidance on digital tools and the sharing of resources to support teacher professional communities of practice within schools or other teacher networks. 

 

• Professional Development

Technology changes at a rapid pace. Educators therefore must be lifelong learners in order to be relevant. Leaders should therefore ensure that teachers are provided with training opportunities and access to relevant digital tools.

The digital strategy will provide professional development by:

• Ensuring that all professional development support services collaborate on the planning, design and delivery of the curriculum and to support teachers to embed technology in their practice.  

• Cooperating with initial teacher education providers to ensure that pre-service teachers acquire the skills, knowledge and confidence to use digital technologies to support learning and teaching.  

• Ensuring that newly qualified teachers receive appropriate guidance and support to integrate technology into teaching, learning and assessment.  

• Ensuring that technology is embedded in the planning, design and delivery of all teacher education courses and programmes.  

• Facilitating professional learning opportunities through online and blended learning support packages.  

• Promoting the sharing of examples of good practice among teachers so that they can design more active learning activities for their students using technology and therefore use technology effectively in teaching, learning and assessment.   

• Providing advice and guidance to teachers on new technologies relevant to teaching, learning and assessment. 

• Providing continued support for teachers and principals in the use of digital learning tools for students with additional learning needs.  

ProFuturo and VEX Robotics provide digital tools and training for teachers to enhance the teaching and learning process. 

 

• Effective Communication

Effective communication is essential in establishing and maintaining a professional learning community. Staff would be more likely to "buy into" the digital strategy if they understand the purpose and can see the benefits of it.

The digital strategy will therefore seek to:

• Communicate the purpose and benefits of engaging in continuing professional development and fostering a professional learning culture at the institution.   

• Ensure that information about the professional learning network and opportunities for professional development are readily shared.

• Identify the digital tools which would be used to facilitate effective communication. These include the G Suite platform, emails and WhatsApp messages.

 

• Digital Skills and Competencies

It is also important to identify the digital competencies and skill set of teaching staff and students when developing a digital strategy. 

• Identify the current skills of teaching staff and students.  

• Assess the level of confidence of staff and students with the use of technology.  

• Determine how to effectively integrate technology and which digital tools should be used to achieve the objectives. 

• Provide training opportunities for staff and students to achieve necessary skills. 

• Find ways to motivate and encourage staff to be confident digital leaders.  

• Provide technical support. 

• Managing Change

It is very important to manage the change to a digital classroom or to a curriculum that integrates technology. 

 

Figure 1: Monitoring Change Implementation

The digital strategy will therefore seek to: 

• First consider the teaching and learning objectives, the strategies and learning activities, and then the technology to be integrated. 

• Ensure that teachers see the benefits of using technology in order to achieve greater "buy in".

• Find solutions for electrical issues at the school which affect digital teaching and learning. Infrastructure which is more reliable would also encourage staff to support and embrace change. 

• Encourage a more student-centered approach and collaborative learning. 

• Ensure that parents, students and other stakeholders are able to receive correspondences on the digital platforms and are also able to communicate with staff on the same platforms. 

• Provide opportunities for training and peer support.

References 

Brown, C., & Poortman, C. (2018). Networks for learning: Effective collaboration for teacher, school and system improvement. Routledge.

Ensminger, David. (2016). Technology Planning in Schools. 10.1002/9781118736494.ch24.  

Ratheeswari, K. (2018). Information Communication Technology in Education. TathQeef Scientific Publishing.