Tech-Savvy Learners

Because of the Twitter outage on 11th July 2019, this session was a re-run

Session 464: There is a common assumption that young people intrinsically know how to use technology, but the truth of our tech-savvy learners is actually more nuanced. Yes, the average young person in your class has probably ‘put in more hours’ to hone their skills at using technology than the more mature user, but there is a secondary aspect which is just as important. Young people are less likely to worry about using technology and this can be a double-edged digital sword. Fear of ‘deleting the Internet’ and anxiety to experiment keeps many mature users of tech to a limited number of digital applications, while their younger counterparts, on average, are more willing to try new things. However, caution over safety and privacy are often overlooked during the veal for digital discovery.

Only with the confidence to experiment and the mindfulness of e-safety can we truly have tech-savvy users of technology.

In this #UKEdChat discussion, we explored how teachers can use learners tech skills to augment learner, how pupils can support staff, and how teachers can support the learners use technology better.

Questions:

1. In your opinion, what does it mean to be tech-savvy?
2. Is it necessary for learners to be tech-savvy in education today?
3. In general, what tech skills do our learners lack which educators should teach them?
4. How can we teach tech skills to a generation who, in general, have tech skills more advanced than the average teacher?
5. How can we support our pupils to safely use tech, both in and out of school?
6. How can tech-savvy learners support their teachers?
7. With technology evolving so quickly, how can we equip pupils with skills that will stand the test of time?
8. Cite examples of pupils using technology well in support of their learning.

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