Adrian Blackman

 

As an educational leader in the 21st century, I believe that the integration of digital technologies is vital to the development of a more equitable and motivational teaching and learning environment that is responsive to student’s current and future needs. Underpinning this philosophy are two guiding principles: education should provide all students with the opportunity to reach their full potential, and it should prepare students for the future. 

International research suggests that the classroom environment in the 21st century is changing. More and more students are requiring special education in some form. According to Riser-Kositsky (2022), “in the past decade, the number of students with disabilities has grown from 6.4 million, or 13 percent of all students in 2010-11, to almost 7.2 million, or 14.5 percent in 2020-21.” Even in those instances where special education is not required in the traditional sense, educators are increasingly realising that all education can be considered “special,” since no two students have the same learning needs and “all education, theoretically, is to be tailored to the particular requirements, strengths, needs, and goals of individual students(Smith, 2021).” As a result, the use of digital technologies in education can play a vital role in lessening the impact of these individual differences and provide a greater chance of success for those students who need them.

Digital technologies can also help students to develop the 21st-century skills that are critical for success in the modern world. As noted by Buckle (2022), today’s students are required to be prepared for a world that requires a nuanced set of skills that can prepare them for the unknown. That means they have to be prepared for jobs that don’t yet exist, have the ability to process and analyze large amounts of information, and learn how to apply facts and ideas towards complex problems (Buckle, 2022). As a consequence, schools now have the responsibility to prepare students for the future by equipping them with these skills. These include but are not limited to the 4C’s: Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication (Stauffer, 2022).

In the final analysis, technology and equity, and technology and 21st-century skills go hand in hand. In special education, technology can be used to accommodate the individual learning styles and limitations of students. This can include making provisions for greater independence, less anxiety, improved connection with classmates, natural, more comfortable and effective communication, and increased academic performance (The University of Texas, 2020). As it relates to 21st-century skills, technology can support the 4C’s in several ways. Devices such as tablets provide ease of access to many different multimedia creative tools. Apps can be used to provide cross-platform support so students are not tied to a single device, and devices can provide easy access to the cloud which allows for collaboration between multiple students both inside and outside of school. It is for this reason that I believe that technology integration is vital to 21st-century education.

References

Buckle, J. (2022, August 23). A Comprehensive Guide to 21st Century Skills. https://www.panoramaed.com/blog/comprehensive- guide-21st-century-skills

https:\/\/online.utpb.edu\/author\/jquinn\/#author. (2020, November 3). The Use of Technology in Special Education | UT Permian Basin Online. The University of Texas Permian Basin | UTPB. https://online.utpb.edu/about-us/articles/education/the-use-of- technology-in-special-education/

Nicholson, D. (2019, October 22). How Educational Technology Can Support the 4C’s of Learning. The Whiteboard Blog. https://www.whiteboardblog.co.uk/2019/10/how-educational-technology-can-support-the-4cs-of-learning/

Riser-Kositsky, M. (2022, July 22). Special Education: Definition, Statistics, and Trends. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/special-education-definition-statistics-and-trends/2019/12

Smith, L. G. A. (2021, October 25). The Role of Technology in Special Education. TechNotes Blog. https://blog.tcea.org/the-role-of- technology-in-special-education/

Stauffer, B. (2022, October 28). What Are the 4 C’s of 21st Century Skills? Applied-Educational-Systems. https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/four-cs-21st-century-skills