About
As an educator my interest in digital technologies was ignited by the absence of resources and prioritisation of institutions to adequately prepare their staff and students to use digital skills purposely and productively. With this, my PhD research project evolved to investigate how our mindset drives the acquisition of digital skills.
A systematic review of literature review revealed that while technology is ubiquitous there is a lack of motivation and opportunity for employees to develop their digital capabilities. The first stage of the research gathered quantitative data, using an online survey, to ascertain the self-reported skills of a group of registered teachers. The teachers were then encouraged to complete a GMetrix practice test to measure their actual proficiency in using a common digital tool such as a word processor application. As anticipated, the self-assessed digital skills did not correlate with the actual digital skill sets of the participants.
The second stage of the research collected qualitative data via semi-structured interviews, with a group of Queensland teachers who have direct responsibility for implementing the Australian Technologies Curriculum, to gain a deeper understanding of what motivates individuals to acquire digital skills. The analysis of the interview data contributed to the development of a model for describing and defining the attributes of a digital mindset.
This research has demonstrated that someone having a familiarity with digital technology does not necessarily equate to them also having a Digital Mindset. However, having a digital mindset greatly impacts on the ability of individuals to be able to future proof themselves in a dynamic technological environment. It also affects the way educators utilise existing, new and emerging technologies in their practice. This research highlights the need for individuals and organisations to invest and take action if we are to have a workforce capable of embracing change and willing to learn new skills in a digital landscape.