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Teacher digital skills and professional development for the 4IR

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Teacher digital skills and professional development for the 4IR

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Four main discussion points:

1. How has digitalization and 4IR impacted this specific area?

2. What are the challenges and opportunities associated with this change?

3. What are the potential future developments in this area over the next 5-10 years?

4. What strategies can be employed to effectively address the challenges?

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Impact of AI and automation on student learning

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Impact of AI and automation on student learning

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Digitalisation and the 4IR have transformed student learning by enhancing accessibility, engagement, and personalization, while also equipping students with the skills necessary for success in a technology-driven world. However, it is essential to address the challenges that may arise from this transformation to ensure that all students benefit from these advancements (Singaram et al., 2023, 2).

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Student well-being and mental health in highly digital environments

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Student well-being and mental health in highly digital environments

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For Students: Challenges and opportunities in online learning and blended learning.

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For Students: Challenges and opportunities in online learning and blended learning.

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Pedagogical innovations and curriculum design in a digital world.

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Pedagogical innovations and curriculum design in a digital world.

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1. How has digitalization and 4IR impacted the educational field?

Teachers had to evolve and adapt to new ways of teaching with technology including employing new teaching roles, new teaching strategies, new learning environments, new tools, new skills etc.

2. What are the challenges and opportunities associated with this change?

Teachers had to adjust the current pedagogical approach to digitalization.

Cyber security is a problem and also struggling with ethical dilemma.

In a short time frame, we had to learn a lot of things and changes pedagogical ways of thinking.

Poor quality of infrastructure limited the ability of teachers to implements the pedagogical innovation.

limited resources had influence on effectiveness of implementing pedagogical innovation.

Opportunities

adaption to change

overcome the fear of change in a long term'

changed the role of teaching

3. What are the potential future developments in the area over 5-10 years?

makes it possible for interactive teaching

interdisciplinarity

enhance collaboration

Increased virtual classes

embracing technology

virtual office hours

cost effectiveness

4. What strategies can be employes to effectively address the challenges?

life-long learner

leaner centric approaches

cultivating critical thinking

digital literacy

creativity

problem-solving abilities

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Question 1: 4IR & Digital Impact on Education:

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Question 1: 4IR & Digital Impact on Education:

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COVID accelerated digital transformation - forced rapid tech adoption and evolution

Changed teaching delivery - needs new teacher digital skills and set new expectations from delivery

Requires ongoing professional development - tech/online learning

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How has digitalization and 4IR impacted this specific area?

Struggling to adapt to changes

Outdated technological equipment for students (e.g laptops/smart phones) from rural/disadvantaged areas and communities – isolates students

Students who do have access – advance faster, but are possible victims of cyber crime (e.g bullying/phishing etc)

Some students use technology to advance themselves and improve their personal lives, as well as their professional opportunities

Social media addiction

Some students hesitant to engage in technology even though they have equipment – feeling overwhelmed

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Technical issues.

Self-motivation and disciple.

Limited interaction.

Unethical conducts

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Digital-devide; students from low-income backgrounds or rural areas may lack the necessary devices or reliable internet connections, hindering their ability to participate fully in online learning (Singaram et al., 2023, 3). Infrastructure Limitations: Many higher education institutions, especially in developing regions, may not have the infrastructure to support advanced digital learning (Singaram et al., 2023, 8).

Assessment Challenges: Traditional assessment methods may not be suitable for online learning environments. Institutions need to develop new assessment strategies that accurately measure student learning and competencies in a digital context (Singaram et al., 2023, 5).

Skill Gaps: Both students and educators may lack the necessary digital skills to effectively engage with new technologies. Continuous development and training are essential to ensure that all students are equipped to utilise digital tools effectively regardless of their background (Singaram et al., 2023, 3).

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The opportunities associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and AI for students include virtual laboratories where students and the industry can collaborate on real-life projects, augmented technologies to solve technical and disciplinary-based problems, access to advanced tools, soft skill development (critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and communication), enhanced research capabilities and lifelong learning. These opportunities can significantly enrich their educational experiences and prepare students for future challenges in the workforce (Bagga & Agrati, 2024, 1-3).

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The next 5-10 years are expected to bring advancements in AI integration, immersive technologies (real-time feedback, adaptive learning paths, and personalised content delivery.), data-driven decision-making, collaboration tools, soft skills development (such as critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and communication), accessibility, and ethical considerations in education. These developments will collectively enhance the educational landscape and better prepare students for the challenges of the future (Bagga & Agrati, 2024, 1-3).

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Strategies to address the challenges students may face when using AI and 4IR technologies include enhancing digital literacy, providing support systems, ensuring inclusive design, promoting ethical use, encouraging collaboration, implementing feedback mechanisms, offering professional development for educators, and fostering a growth mindset. These strategies can help create a more supportive and effective learning environment for students navigating the digital landscape.

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Challenges and Opportunities associated with digital change:

Challenges:

Lack of digital skills

IT Support

Digital Infrastructure

Security

Cost of adoption

Distractions (Multi-Tasking)

Opportunities:

Continuous Development and Learning

Improved Communication and Accessibility

Efficiency and productivity can increase

Enhanced resilience against disruption

Wider fields of collaboration

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Question 3: Potential future developments over the next 5 - 10 years

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Question 3: Potential future developments over the next 5 - 10 years

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Future Developments:

AI & personalised learning environments

Teachers become learning facilitators/mentors (Reverse Classroom Approach)

Hybrid/flexible learning models

Focus on digital skills & real-world problem-solving

Enhancements in Technologies:

VR and AR Class Rooms

Cost-Effectivity - To Improve education accesability

Secondary Skills Development and Certification

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Question 4: What strategies can we effectively employ to address challenges

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Question 4: What strategies can we effectively employ to address challenges

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Create positive awareness of the benefits of promoting a mind-shift change in both students and lecturers.

Create a resource-rich environment that encourages lecturers to onboard technologies and pilot initiatives that keep the course, content, and approach relevant.

Develop adaptive teaching methods that blend tech/traditional approaches.

Foster collaboration between institutions, industry, and stakeholders

Encourage lecturers to develop course content and curriculums that encourage student and lecturer engagement with online resources and platforms.

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You can go back and listen to the recording.

Relatively cheap.

Flexibility and accessibility.

You be anywhere in the world.

Improves the digital skills.

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Challenges:

Distraction during class time and preparation time

Social media addiction

Lack of resources/equipment for all

Inadequate infrastructure

Reduced class attendance

Lack of social interaction with other students

Lack of personal interaction with teachers

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Technical issues.

Difficult in finding balance.

Limited interaction those.

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Increased flexibility and accessibility.

Enhanced engagement.

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Opportunities:

Opportunity to attend online classes if contact classes are not possible (e.g during protests/Covid)

Easy dissemination of information

Diverse teaching methods, incorporating different teaching styles reaching students with different learning methods

Variety of assessment tools

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Interactive teaching tools sucs Kahoot.it

Governments and universities should invest in education.

Tranings and workshops for students.

Clear policy on using AI tools.

Clear support systems for students.

Diverse assessments strategies which include oral examinations and presentations.

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What are the potential future developments in this are over the next 5-10 years?

Increased numbers of students with depression

Addiction councilors required

Digital security must be updated

Digital literacy must be improved

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Digital literacy and student preparedness

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Digital literacy and student preparedness

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Teachers

Use technology to support IBL by providing access to resources that help students stay engaged. However, teachers may face barriers to adopting digital inquiry methods, such as Limited access to technology resources, Lack of proficiency in integrating technology, and Inadequate professional development.

Students

Students will be equipt with the skills to efficiently use digital tools and resources to gather, evaluate, and create information

Challenges

The rapid adoption creates a steep learning curve for educators, increasing workload pressures as they adapt to new tools, online teaching platforms, and constantly evolving digital requirements while facing limited institutional supports

Opportunities

These changes provide educators with innovative tools to enhance teaching, personalised learning experiences, and increase accessibility to global resources, aligning with inquiry- based and competence-driven professional development.

Future development

Over the next 5 -10 years, students in higher education are likely to experience a surge in personalised learning through AI, virtual and augmented reality tools for immersive education, and increased accessibility to global educational resources, driven by digitalisation and the continued evolution of the 4IR

Strategies

Institutions can implement strategies such as providing training, increasing access to technology and high-speed internet, incorporating blended learning models, and fostering a supportive environment for collaborative and personalised learning

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What strategies can be employed to effectively address the challenges?

All students should have access to required equipment

Infrastructure should be available to access internet.

Education in digital platforms

Mental health education and assistance

Community outreach to schools to develop digital literacy at an earlier age

Increase digital restrictions at university premises to avoid unnecessary distraction and disengagement

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The role of AI in teaching (e.g. adaptive learning tools, automating administrative tasks).

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The role of AI in teaching (e.g. adaptive learning tools, automating administrative tasks).

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How has digitalisation and 4IR impacted the area of teaching:

The 4th Industrial Revolution is pushing teachers to evolve teaching strategies, so they support personalized learning for creativity, innovation, and problem solving and have more time for individual instruction.

What are the challenges and opportunities associated with the change?

-Covid 19 has forced teachers to change their teaching strategies to ensure that they are aligned with the pressure that came with the pandemic to salvage the activities of the year.

-Digitalisation and 4IR hamper social cohesion; there is no sufficient face-to-face interaction and communication (it reduces human interaction).

Teachers are not sufficiently familiar with technology as compared to students (generational gap).

-Overreliance on AI can diminish human critical thinking ability.

-The advantage is that there is no longer information privatisation and monopoly (saves time of perusing the physical text book).

_Students do not have to spend a lot in the physical library any more.

-Students are now using more ebooks.

What are the potential future developments in this area over the next - years:

-Lifelong learning and continuous education (it will provide personalised on-demand educational resources).

-Global education equity (does not matter where you are. As long as a teacher has access, the educational gap can be bridged.

-Ethical and privacy considerations as AI is used, awareness has to be emphasised on ethical considerations and privacy. Therefore, policies must be fully implemented.

-The role of teachers will change from being a teacher to being a facilitator.

-AI will promote interdisciplinary learning, by integrating knowledge from different fields

What strategies can be employed to effectively address the challenges.

Teachers must have the systems to be able to authenticate information provided by students via the Learner Management Systems, to detect AI components in the student's work.

Teachers must keep abreast with technology to align themselves with the requirements of becoming relevant teachers that will be accepted by learners of today.

-Collaboration must be encouraged amongst teachers from different departments.

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Balancing Digitalization with traditional reaching methods

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Balancing Digitalization with traditional reaching methods

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Digitalization and 4IR

Benefit blended learning which combines distance and contact

recording of previous lecture for future

track attendance automatically and track student progress

reduce administrative load of lectures

Challenges

over reliance on AI

not knowledge and experience

Assessment using AI ,limitations

connectivity issues

Opportunities

allows to present classes from anywhere

regular assessments and immediate feedback

Future development

allows to teach multiple campuses at once

collaborative teaching

Strategies to address challenges

design your learning for both digital and traditional

training for effective use of digital tools