A report by a House of Lords committee has called for a stronger focus
on developing digital literacy in schools and equipping teachers to deliver
the new computing curriculum, which launched this academic year.
The aim is to better prepare young people for the world beyond education,
to boost the opportunities for women in digital careers, and to ensure
that the UK doesn’t fall behind in the new digital era. The report
says that 35% of current jobs in the UK could be automated within 20 years,
but that this ‘tech-world’ is very much ‘male-dominated.’
Digital divide
According to the report, at present, the UK has a significant ‘digital
divide,’ with ‘six million citizens never having used the
internet and 9.5 million lacking adequate digital skills.’ It also
sites that, aside from not being able to afford computers or other digital
devices at home, these individuals and families may not have received
sufficient training or computer access in school.
It highlights the fact that digital businesses can locate anywhere in the
world, and that the UK needs to create an attractive environment for these
businesses to flourish – this may include the availability of the
latest hardware and software, as well as a leading, tech-savvy workforce
and labour pool. Some suggest that we are seeing a major shift in the
importance of basic skills in the workplace and in schools, and that digital
competence should be viewed on a par with numeracy and literacy –
some say it’s now more important.
Teacher Training
But with such radical changes taking place I technology over the past two
decades, one of the major problems in schools is the proficiency of teachers
and their ability to deliver it the new curriculum.
The government pledge £1.1m to the British Computing Society (BCS)
to help train and prepare teachers for the new curriculum, as well as
a further £500,000 to attract businesses who can train teachers
in skills specialist skills such as coding. Some teachers, however, still
feel left behind:
“When it comes to modern digital technology, I feel that many students
know more than me – Apps, iPads, iPhones, cloud storage and online
presentation programs barely scratch the surface. I often have to ask
students to assist with technical blips or operate new technology, when
I should be the one teaching them.”
“As well as the government’s 2013 boost, we need is on-going
training for teachers, as well as in-school tech-savvy experts to coach
us. Technology changes so quickly, that one-off training is no good; it
needs to be on-going and accompanied by more time to practice, experiment
and develop our new skills, so that we can become the experts.”
New Tutors Needed
While implementing these changes can be tricky and uptake may be slow,
the shift is inevitable. This creates significant opportunities for tutors,
whether it means existing tutors offering additional one-to-one tutoring
sessions in computer competency, or new tutors and coding experts offering
their services as employers.
Parents who are concerned that their child needs further coaching in basic
skills, or is aware their talent needs further stretch and challenge may
be interested in appointing digital technology tutors for one-to-one home
tutoring sessions. Schools may be looking to employ part-time tutors to
coach both students and teachers, and adults may be looking to develop
new skills for job applications and promotions.
