File:DigitalLearning AU.pdf

Summary

This chapter examines the state of digital learning in Australian schools. Digitalization has become integrated throughout schools, playing an essential role in teaching, learning, administration and communication. Despite infrastructure constraints, many Australian teachers actively employ digital technologies to enrich learning experiences to prepare students for a digitally interconnected world. The Australian education system’s approach to digital learning diverges from its OECD counterparts in several ways: A national curriculum mandates technology and digital literacy education for all students, ensuring consistent exposure from Foundation to Year 8 or 10. A strong emphasis is placed on online safety and digital citizenship education to protect students from online harm and foster responsible technology usage. Furthermore, coding and problem-solving skills are explicitly integrated into the curriculum, acknowledging their significance in a technology-driven world. Current trends in digital learning in Australian schools include widespread technology integration; the growing prominence of online education; the popularity of integrated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) education, experimentation with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and the use of educational computer games in classrooms. While these developments offer valuable advantages to students’ learning outcomes, increasing concerns are being raised by parents and community groups about students’ excessive dependence on technology. Digital learning requires high-quality programs and support, with AI tools holding promise in addressing this. However, challenges loom over the future of quality digital learning in Australian schools. Anticipated acute teacher shortages pose a risk to educational standards. The digital divide, which limits access to digital learning, remains a pervasive issue, impacting disadvantaged students, with an over-representation of First Nations’ students. While digitalization has made substantial progress, significant challenges must be confronted to ensure the realization of the ‘Education Goals for Young Australians’ (Education Council, 2019) which promotes excellence and equity in education so that Australia produces confident, informed and successful lifelong learners.

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