Digital fluency: necessary competence for teaching and learning in connected classrooms

Abstract

Educators’ digital fluency has been noted as one of the most important skill required for effective curriculum delivery in connected classrooms. Evidence shows that even though many Western Cape classrooms have Internet connectivity, many educators are unable to take advantage of the connectivity for teaching and learning. Hence, this paper focuses on the educators’ digital fluency as a necessary competence for effective curriculum delivery in connected classrooms. The study was done qualitatively by randomly selecting thirty-six educators who participated in one-on-one and focus group interviews. Results show that most educators perceive their digital fluency and the complex knowledge of how to effectively integrate digital technologies into curriculum delivery to be inadequate. Hence they are unable to take advantage of the connectivity in the classrooms. Therefore, the authorities in education need to ensure educators are well equipped to develop digital fluency and the ways of integrating technologies into curriculum delivery.