Report: Tech Skills for the Next Generation

Digital Technologies education in Australian schools

Tech skills for the next generation provides policy recommendations to better support teachers in teaching Digital Technologies Curriculum.  This will help Australia meet future technology workforce demands and prepare all young Australians with the skills to adapt to new technologies in the increasingly complex digital economy and town square.

Based on a national survey of teachers and input from experts across the education sector, the new report found that teachers are struggling to implement the existing Digital Technologies Curriculum. The report explores these findings, and provides details on ways to ensure future generations will be equipped for the digital world. 

The report recommends actions that Australian governments and the education sector can take right now to address these challenges, across four key areas:

  1. Ensuring there are accessible ready-to-use teaching resources
  2. Embedding digital readiness into the initial Teacher Education, the education course that train new teachers
  3. Supporting ongoing professional development and training
  4. Elevating the awareness of value and importance of Digital Technologies in the community

About the Report

This report was prepared by the Tech Policy Design Centre in partnership with the Australian Computer Society (ACS), building on findings of their previous survey in 2022.

Tech skills for the next generation

Digital transformation, propelled by new and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), is spurring the need for new knowledge across the entire workforce and demanding a higher level of digital literacy for the whole Australian population.

As emerging technology continually shifts how we connect and do business, all Australians – not just technology professionals – need digital skills for full participation in society and the economy.  On our current trajectory, Australia will struggle to meet its growing need for digital and technology skills, and prepare all Australians for the digital world.

Based on a national survey of teachers and input from experts across the education sector, the new report found over two thirds of teachers who responded are struggling to implement the existing Digital Technologies Curriculum, while only one quarter reported having enough support to address these challenges. The result is a drop in student interest in information and communication technologies (ICT) subjects in Years 11 and 12 in Australian schools, which leads to fewer students likely to pursue ICT in further education and professional careers

The good news is there are policy levers that the federal and state governments can pull today to better support teachers. Without this support, we risk widening the digital divide and creating a society where the next generation of Australians are not equipped to navigate the increasingly complex digital world.

Professor Johanna Weaver, Founding Director of the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre

Australia has the opportunity to take action by supporting teachers to overcome these challenges with Digital Technologies education and better engage students with technology throughout their education. In turn, this will help the next generation develop essential digital abilities and creative thinking skills to set them up for success in an increasingly digitised world.

 

Download the Report (PDF).

In the Media

Tech skills for the next generations is featured in various media outlets