Next-Generation Digital Curricula for Future Teaching and Learning

Changes to contemporary curricula are increasingly driven by the evolution of technology. The spread of personal digital devices and pervasive communication infrastructure has led to significant changes in global society. These changes have highlighted the need for schools to ensure that all students are prepared for the contemporary digital world. The need to provide digital skills for all students means that digital technology can no longer be taught only as a specialist subject area but rather needs to be embedded in all subjects across the curriculum. This recognition of the importance of digital skills for all has meant that many countries have developed new curriculum areas focused on developing these skills. However, for many educators, there is still a disconnect between the technical skills that curricula often prescribe and the practical strategies needed to integrate these skills into their broader classroom activities. This chapter explores how a number of countries have approached the integration of digital skills into the curriculum and the commonalities between these diverse approaches. A number of examples are given of how certain technologies have provided opportunities for embedding digital skills across the curriculum. From these examples, we identify some complementary dimensions that can help us to design future curricula for the digital age.