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Nathan Snider, Manager, Research and Stakeholder Engagement, ICTCSUPPLIED

Canada is experiencing a step-change acceleration in the adoption of online learning, which requires new digital skills among both educators and students. This influx of technology is even redefining the role of the educator.

A new study by the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) finds that while digital technology has trickled into Canadian schools for over a decade, COVID-19 highlights the need for more teacher training in digital literacy, information/media literacy and Learning Management Systems.

The study, 21st Century Digital Skills: Competencies, Innovations and Curriculum in Canada, builds on interviews with educators and subject-matter experts during the pandemic. Alongside technical skills, it notes the growing importance of soft (or “human”) skills for teachers, including digital curiosity, interpersonal communication and self-confidence.

Digital technology is also having a profound impact on students. The top technical and academic skills needed by K-12 students, according to the study, include an understanding of “digital citizenship,” information/data management and media literacy. The needed human skills focus on stronger critical thinking, communication and adaptability.

“Media literacy now incorporates issues of fake news and how a student participates in a networked world,” said a study interviewee. “So, it’s really going beyond simply reading and consuming ... [it’s examining] the creation of information, how and to what extent texts and tools amplify the narrative … and understanding that technology enables all of this.”

If technology in the classroom is to be more than a stopgap for navigating the pandemic and rises to the promise of strengthening student engagement and academic success, the concept of what it means to be an educator comes into question. This involves furthering the paradigm shift in teaching styles, from “sage on the stage” to that of “guide on the side.”

Ultimately, technology in the classrooms is part of a much larger and ongoing educational transition toward more personalized learning that will help students keep pace with a rapidly changing world. This evolution embraces organizations such as ICTC, which works closely with industry and academia to nurture technology skills and bridge workforce gaps.

Wage-subsidized, work-integrated learning programs such as ICTC’s WIL Digital, e-learning programs to bolster job readiness and the popular high school cybersecurity competition CyberTitan are helping students explore education pathways and careers in digital technology, which is a cornerstone of a prosperous Canadian economy.


Advertising feature produced by Randall Anthony Communications. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.

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