Looking at the impact of digital revolution in school education: considerations and insights

Abstract

Aim. The necessary renewal of teaching methods and school practices must take into consideration the technologies of the new generations of students, for whom the supremacy of the book and of the alphabetic writing is no longer given for certain. The presence of digital natives paves the way for educators to increase the digital awareness of young people, primarily through the definition of the terms of a new digital literacy. The reflection on the experiences of applying Web 2.0 tools to the educational context highlights the growing importance of participatory culture and informal learning.

Methods. An important role is played by an updated use of constructivist and connectivist pedagogical perspectives. Training courses are considered for the person of the e-learning tutor. Among the specific objectives we have the diffusion of Computer Mediated Communication (CMC), the deepening of Web 2.0 environments, the introduction of cooperative work and constructivist management methods of online interaction, the use of moderation techniques in e-learning environment. These objectives refer to the context of teaching, staff training and school organisation.

Results. The collected results are processed using computerised statistical and text analysis systems, which highlight the most central themes and the most evident correlations between the emerging evidence. People who follow training courses of this type show greater awareness of the use and usefulness of technologies. They acquire awareness of the challenges posed by the growth of the young generation of digital natives, in terms of activating a new digital literacy.

Conclusions. The research also highlights the difficulties and disappointments encountered in dealing with users and with the school authority. Attending training courses of this type significantly underlines the existence of two distinct fundamental methods of approaching the introduction of new media: one of technologising type, in which technologies are seen indicatively as an end, and one of culturalising type, in which technologies are seen as a means.