Some fresh ideas on digital education - Main contents

I often find it’s the younger generation - digital natives - who are most aware of the opportunities of digital technology. And that’s why I’ve assembled a group of “young advisors” - talented and inspiring young people shaping our digital society. Last time we met I asked them to put together all their bright ideas. And they’ve done so, in two fascinating documents:

• 1. 

  First, their ideas on education. This is an area where digital technology can really transform the landscape: teachers no longer need to be gatekeepers to arcane knowledge, but can be mentors as students explore the knowledge available for all online. That’s a very different philosophy calling for a radically different system. But recent research suggests Europe isn’t doing so well at responding. Meanwhile, of course, we need to educate people with new 21^st century skills - with 90% of jobs needing digital skills and Europe short of nearly one million skilled ICT workers. So take a look at their detailed ideas on how to transform education for the digital age, from the role of teachers and parents to open resources to lifelong learning.

• 2. 

  And I also asked for their thoughts in other areas too. From copyright to openness and encouraging entrepreneurship. Again they came up with some great stuff- see for yourselves!

Anyway, if this sounds interesting to you I suggest you read it direct from them! I’m certainly going to consider those ideas very carefully and take account of them - like for the paper Commissioner Vassilliou and I are working on, “Opening up Education“.

But I know my young advisers are not the only ones with good ideas - on education or other issues. So I’ll ask you, my blog readers, too. What are your views on the ideas they’ve set out? Where else are we failing to take advantage of digital potential?