// CONSULTATION ON DIGITAL LITERACY

METHODS
SURVEY PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
10 x short answer and open-ended
questions
Average survey time 15.5 minutes

RUN DATES
October 2017 - January 2018

SAMPLE
Snowball sampling via ITU’s networks
39 respondents
Not a representative sample

DATA
Qualitative data
SAMPLE
FINDINGS
01 KEY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
FINDINGS
01 KEY TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
What are the top three most exciting technology trends currently?

Internet of Things

Social media/visual social media

Big data

Artificial intelligence & machine learning

Cloud computing

Mobile technology/mobile internet

Educational technologies

ICT access/adoption

Robotics

Block chain

Driverless cars

Gaming/online gaming
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

NO. OF RESPONSES
FINDINGS
02 DEFINITIONS OF DIGITAL LITERACY

FAMILIARITY WITH SKILLS, BEHAVIOURS & ENABLING

COMPETENCIES

Desktop computers Technical Equitable access

Laptops Cognitive Safe and responsible use
Tablets Social/emotional Educational opportunity
Smartphones Evaluative Full participation in the
Gaming devices Coding/programming knowledge society
Creative (e.g. remix) Access to quality and
Communication reliable information and
Safety debate
Language competency Social connection and
Knowing what to use collaboration
technology for Communication and self-
Knowing opportunities expression
Advocacy
Fun
FINDINGS
03 KEY CHALLENGES
What are the top three challenges for children’s digital literacy that you envisage for the next five
to ten years?

Unequal ICT access/digital divide

Online safety risks

Digital skills and literatices of parents and teachers

Fostering children's critical thinking and evaluative skills

Empowering children tomaximise the benefits of digital media

Needs of vulnerable children

Prohibitive costs for users

Rapid technological change

Lack of reliable infrastructure

0 2 4 6 8 10 12
FINDINGS
04 BARRIERS TO CHILDREN’S DIGITAL LITERACY
What are the top three barriers to children’s digital literacy in your country?
Limited digital literacy of teachers

Inadequate access to devices

Resources for digital literacy

Lack of digital curricula

Weak or lack of reliable infrastructure

Online risks

Policy priority

Cost of technology/connection

Parental literacy/responsibility

Socioeconomic barriers

School infrastructure and equipment

Rapid technological development

Inadequate government initiatives

Inadequate foundational skills

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
FINDINGS
05 EFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT STRATEGIES
Are current strategies • EDUCATION NOT INCORPORATING DIGITAL
• CURRICULUM NOT KEEPING PACE WITH RAPID CHANGE
effectively supporting
• NOT TARGETING VERY YOUNG CHILDREN
children’s digital
• EDUCATION LAGS BEHIND CHILDREN'S USE AFTER
literacy?
HOURS
• NOT BALANCING SAFETY WITH OPPORTUNITIES
YES 5 • NOT ENCOURAGING ENOUGH CRITICAL THINKING
• DIGITAL LITERACY IS UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED
UNDECIDED 7 • LACK OF CONSISTENT POLICY AND RESOURCING
• LINES OF RESPONSIBILITY ARE UNCLEAR
NO: SCOPE FOR
IMPROVEMENT 27 CHILDREN DON'T HAVE APPROPRIATE ADULT GUIDANCE
- PARENTS WITH LOW DIGITAL LITERACY
- LACK OF SKILLED TEACHERS
Even spread across
developing and developed
CHILDREN TAKE TIME TO DEVELOP DIGITAL LITERACY…
nations
REQUIRES ONGOING INVESTMENT AND ATTENTION
FINDINGS
06 WHAT WORKS
Intergenerational: parents, teachers, whole of
community Across the life course
   
Flexible tools and programs, in languages Strong leadership from government and the
children speak, that can move with the times technology sector
 
Targeting very young children and girls/young Cross-sector cooperation and coordination
women
Developing and enforcing teacher competency
Teaching digital literacy as part of everyday standards
learning
  Developing targeted teacher training
Provision of technology in schools
  Consistent national education policy targeting
Using platforms children engage with and digital literacy
enjoy
Collaborative/interactive strategies Regular evaluation

Coding

Real-life examples
FINDINGS
07 SUGGESTED ITU PRIORITIES
MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACHES…
• Promote investment in infrastructure
• Promote affordability and equality of
access to technology and connectivity
• Develop a digital literacy framework with
clear digital literacy standards, policies
and guidelines  for governments and educators
• Activate international conventions and
other policy tools
• Focus on girls/young women
• Encourage children to think about their
(digital) futures
• Encourage integration of technology in
school curricula
• Develop educational programs for
families
• Develop and promote coding initiatives
• Develop workshops, training and toolkits
 
• Promote knowledge exchange intra- and
internationally
• Support government policy-making and
implementation
• Provide free digital literacy tools and
programs
QUESTIONS