Learning in the Digital Age

Making learning an integral part of daily life is becoming increasingly important for both individuals and businesses and digital technology can help enhance the possibilities. Digital learning can happen in and out of schools, at the workplace, through social networks or through self-directed problem solving and exploration. But how we design and implement these exciting technological environments is a thorny decision with profound implications for the development of mindsets about learning that will determine how people perceive it for the rest of their lives.

The digital age has allowed an individualized approach to education and has increased the access to information. Students can access a wide range of educational materials via online resources and adaptive technologies allow them to progress at their own pace by addressing the gaps in their understanding and presenting challenges to advanced learners. This flexibility is a major component of the learning theory https://lifelongdigital.org/2021/07/12/generated-post/ of connectivism, which focuses on the collaborative, inquiry-based learning process that is supported by digital tools and platforms.

However, these new possibilities raise crucial questions about what is being learned and how it is learned and who is actually doing the learning. Digital learning may bring about new challenges, such as security, privacy of data, and the possibility of excessive screen-time that can cause digital fatigue and negatively affect physical health.

Digital learning is driving a rise in alternative models for education, skills and signaling in global labor markets. From bootcamps to digital badges, and from microcredentials to records of learning and employment (LERs), many private, public and non-profit institutions are experimenting with new ways to deliver education and training.