Posted at 1:00 p.m.
The mission of Quebec schools is based on three main axes: to instruct in a world of knowledge, to socialize in a pluralistic world and to qualify in a changing world. School therefore plays an essential role in the development of intellectual and socio-emotional capacities in our young people for all aspects of their lives. It is also essential that they develop their power of action in the face of the complexity of current and future challenges.
Digital is thus presented as an unavoidable current issue, because it is reforming our way of thinking, creating, communicating, collaborating, learning and working.
In order to deal with this reality, promote equal opportunity, support educational success and develop the full potential of our young people, the Government of Quebec deployed the digital action plan in 2018 aimed in particular at the development of digital skills. The latter is declined in 12 dimensions supporting the growth of an autonomous and critical use of digital use.
Digital competence is also essential in our era marked by technological innovation which sometimes radically transforms our labor market as well as our society.
Since school plays an essential role in the lives of our young people, its actors have the responsibility of equipping them and empowering them in the face of this major challenge and the inherent consequences.
Cyberbullying, cyberaddiction, lack of cultural transmission, distractions, plagiarism, self-esteem issues, misinformation… These issues existed before the massive arrival of screens in our schools. Admittedly, the pandemic will have exacerbated some of these phenomena, but the school environment cannot be dissociated from society and vice versa. Moreover, several means are in place or are being developed to mitigate these societal changes. Indeed, it is possible to cite as examples: the overhaul of the ethics and religious culture course, the advisers of the Education collaboration innovation technology network (RECIT) as well as the Transfer center for educational success in Quebec (CTREQ) which, at different levels, promote programs and support in our school communities.
More than just a consumer
Many education stakeholders are currently working to develop digital skills. They recommend the development of skills for “a confident, critical and creative use of digital technology to achieve goals related to learning, work, leisure, inclusion in society or participation in it. this “1. We thus support a succession that we want to be ready to deal with the technological innovations of today and tomorrow. It is no longer enough to be a simple consumer. Now you have to become a creator.
What to remember from the last few months in distance learning, you will ask… only failures? On the contrary, teachers developed their critical thinking about technology, seized its benefits, worked on school engagement and motivation and collaborated in the development of their own digital competence like never before. The challenges are many, but so are the opportunities.
Let us remember that the mission of ” [l]Quebec school is […] to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to acquire the necessary means to better take their place at work, in their family and in community life.2. In this regard, education and digital are inseparable.