What skills will I need as a teacher in order to teach effectively in the Digital

Age?
There is no mistaking that providing effective and engaging teaching requires many
skills and attributes. But as we continue to charge into the Digital Age, those skill
sets and attributes must be adjustable to accommodate change.
Gerald White (2013) argues that teaching in the digital age is not merely
about modifying the traditional skills used by educators but that it involves the
addition of new and complex ones. This resonates with me in that I see tremendous
future learning opportunities for students but at the same time, I also see value in the
role of traditional teaching practices.
When considering the benefits of the digital age, it is evident they are bountiful
- interactive learning, abundance of online resources and digital tools, informal
learning outside the school room through use of digital devices, enhanced curriculum
content (Bates, 2014), as well as the means to better cater for differentiation
(Committee for Economic Development, 2013). Learning experiences become much
more dynamic and innovative and the expectations of the next generation of digital
natives becomes much more sophisticated.
In her podcast, Sharon Pittaway (n.d) links educational innovation and reform
with the 4Cs those being critical thinking, communication, collaboration and
creativity. I am going to briefly consider two of these and how their inclusion may
benefit effective teaching in the Digital Age.
I will begin with collaboration. Collaboration develops social skills, learning is
enhanced through MKOs, it provides flexibility within the classroom and encourages
multiple perspectives (Davies, 2010). In a rapidly changing and globalised world, the

ability to collaborate is now considered an in-demand, 21st Century skill (Australian

Institute for Teaching and School Leadership [AITSL], 2011).
The other area of the 4Cs that I would like to discuss is communication. Here,
a teacher may tap into a variety of digital resources to pass on knowledge. These
can include online presentations, podcasts, forums and community groups. The
discerning teacher would consider the what is best in terms of resources and include
where relevant. Like collaboration, the ability to communicate effectively is an
essential skill for modern times (AITSL, 2011).
While there are many skills required of a teacher to deliver effective teaching,
a key one in my opinion, is the ability to determine when to modify teaching content
and practice, to suit individual learners. And by this I mean when to utilise traditional
strategies and practices and when to tap into the more digitally-oriented approaches.
When you consider the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, in particular
Standards 1 through to 4 (AITSL, 2011), it is evident just how important this
modification and adaptation ability is.
While focus will always remain on academic and social support to students, I
believe an effective teacher must now also provide technological support (Bates,
2014). Not only does this require continual professional development but an ongoing commitment to maintain and build on the skills required for teaching in the
digital age.
Back in 2001, Mark Prensky stated that we will soon be living in a mobile,
technology-driven and knowledge-based society (Prensky, 2001). We are well
underway with that, in that regard. And, in order to create individuals to succeed and

participate in such a society, teachers and the educational system at large, must
embrace the digital age and teach accordingly.
REFERENCES:
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership [AITSL]. (2011). Australian
professional standards for teachers: Standards. Retrieved from
http://www.aitsl.edu.au/docs/default-source/apstresources/australian_professional_standard_for_teachers_final.pdf
Bates, T. (2014). Key characteristics of learners in a digital age and their influence
on the design of teaching and learning | Tony Bates. Tonybates.ca. Retrieved
from http://www.tonybates.ca/2014/08/22/key-characteristics-of-learners-in-adigital-age-and-their-influence-on-the-design-of-teaching-and-learning/
Committee for Economic Development. (2013). Digital Learning: Meeting the
Challenges and Embracing the Opportunities for Teachers. Retrieved from
https://www.ced.org/pdf/Digital_Learning_Issue_Brief_Final.pdf
Davies, D. (2010). Child development: A practitioners guide. (3rd ed.). New York:
Guildford Press
Pittaway, S. (n.d). Week 2: Module 1 Critical thinking and Problem Solving.
[Podcast]. Retrieved from https://ilearn.swin.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid5027699-dt-content-rid-25787731_2/courses/2015-SO2-EDU80010208814/UnitLearningMaterials/week-02-transcript.html
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1. On The Horizon, 9(5),
1-6. doi:10.1108/10748120110424816
White, Gerald K. (2013) Digital fluency: skills necessary for learning in the digital
age. Melbourne: ACER