“Digital Life Skills” for the young and mobile “Digital Citizens”

Abstract

Technology has changed the world we live in and has come to be both villified and acclaimed, often for the same reasons. Whilst mobile phones in particular, have tremendous potential as knowledge exchange devices in the developing world due to their accessibility, usability and universality, there are many issues that need to be resolved when using them in an educational environment. The MobilED iniative, which strives to apply mobile phones as tools to support development, focussing on impacting the education system in the short term, has shown that technology is not value free and piloting technology without considering the impact on the community is a short-sighted approach. This paper reflects on the development perspective of implementing a mobile phone initiative in an educational environment and suggests the activity theory as a lens to broaden practitioners' understanding and sensitivity to issues that come into play when learners are empowered with alternative access to information and communication. Insights gained from the MobilED initiative are articulated and we reflect on the implications on other mobile learning initiatives in general and in developing context specifically. The concept of “Digital Citizenship” is discussed and various mechanisms are suggested in order to prepare children with “digital life skills” so that they may safely and confidently become full members of the knowledge society