When it comes to digital literacy and acquiring 21st-century skills, digital educationis the way to approach it. This is as true of Malaysia, as it is of any other region in the world. That is why most of the leading schools in the country offerdigital tools in classrooms. The advent of technology in science is all pervasive in Malaysian schools, ranging from primary schools to high schools. Whether it is a Cambridge Lower Secondary School or an IB continuum school, one can perceive the importance attached to digital education quite clearly.
Why is Digital Education Better?
There are many reasons why digital education is not only an integral part of today’s educational landscape but has come to define it. Let us look at what the principal ones are:
Enhances the Ability to Learn
Students today have access to vast amounts of information online, considerably enhancing their learning ability. This was not possible in the past when education was provided entirely in the classroom. These days students have access to
interactive learning that lets them collaborate with others and thereby, learn in a much more comprehensive manner. What’s more, they are better able to comprehend the fundamental concepts of what they are taught because it is possible to exemplify these with the help of digital tools.
Much Enhanced Communication
The digital revolution has transformed the way that communication is carried out in today’s world, which has led to an enormous improvement in the way that students communicate these days. Access to email, social media and video conferencing have redefined the paradigm of communication among students. They are much better connected with each other and their teachers, allowing them to obtain information much more conveniently and in a faster manner. Besides, these enhanced communication skills put them at an advantage when they embark on their professional careers.
Better Critical Thinking and Problem-solving Abilities
One of the most positive outcomes of modern digital education is the fact that it encourages students to think critically because they need to process large volumes of information from digital sources. This leads to the development of problem-solving abilities at an early age, allowing them to develop a can-do attitude when it comes to resolving technological issues and learning to find workable solutions.
Better Prepared for the Future
The world is in the middle of a digital and technological revolution that is changing the very meaning of human existence. With the technological landscape evolving by the day and the hour, there is no knowing what the world of tomorrow may bring. In a scenario like that it is quite evident that a digital education is critically important for today’s young people as it better prepares them for tomorrow’s world.
Use of Technology Democratises Education
The use of digital education has made it possible for the highest quality of education to reach the remotest parts of the world. This has opened up a world of opportunities for many which would not have been possible in the pre-digital times. Technology in education can allow students in virtual classrooms to have access to teachers and resources, as well as interact with others unhindered by geography. This is helping herald a whole new wave of empowerment of children and young people, who can now look to much better futures.
Conclusion
The use of technology in schools across Malaysia is ushering in a silent revolution that is teaching the children of today to cope with a world far different from what most can imagine. Disruptive technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Robotics are blurring the line between science fiction and reality, making it imperative for everyone to be extremely technologically savvy. This will ensure that they will do well in the times ahead.
Digital education has already had a tremendously transformative impact on the contemporary education system around the world and this is only likely to become all the more so, given the direction in which the world has headed. Parents desirous of providing their children with the best possible education would do well if they checked out how well-equipped the school that they have chosen for their children is in terms of providing them with the latest digital tools. Students with access to the latest, cutting-edge digital education tools are clearly going to be at an advantage over those who don’t.
It is, therefore, very important that everyone—from the government and civil society to schools and parents—ensures there is no digital divide in education, and that every child has access to modern digital learning. The prosperity of nations depends on this. Regent International School in Malaysia has demonstrated this by giving digital literacy the importance it deserves, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the future of its children and young people.
