Simply put a ‘Digital Learning Environment’ (DLE) is an environment where students are using digital technology to access or create information. This is seen widely across my school environment from junior school students using programs like “Reading Eggs” or “Math Seeds,” to middle school students creating wikis together as part of a unit of study, to senior school students accessing Encyclopedia Britannica off the school’s website as part of their research.

The prevalence of DLEs in and outside schools has a wide impact on our students and school community. It has changed the way we teach because it has changed the way students learn. Rote memorisation is less necessary when students can “Google” anything from a device in their pocket. It opens up many fantastic learning opportunities from accessing videos from experts in their field to collaboration with students on the other side of the world.

However, the changes also come with new challenges for educators. The amount of information that students need to sift through is astronomical and they need the tools to know how to do it. The potential for students to misuse technology and put themselves or others in danger (for example, by giving out private information) or to leave a digital footprint that will haunt them (receiving a nude selfie means you are in possession of child pornography which can have legal ramifications, not to mention cyber bullying, etc). The challenges can be compounded by having students that are more tech-savvy than their teachers or parents. Educators need to be aware of the shift in learning that DLE has brought, harnessing the benefits and educating the school community on the potential hurdles and risks.