Youth as Active Learners on Digital Platforms: New Educational Challenges, Contradictions, and Opportunities

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 32
  In Roundtable Session: Youth and Technology: Literacies and Policies

Abstract

This paper examines, from youth perspectives, the forms of support that could help youth to manage risk in digital environments, and embrace and inform the limitless educational opportunities on offer. The fieldwork took place in 10 UK schools with 1592 youth (age 13-19; m=584; f=1002; undeclared=6). Youth identified three potential sources of support or actions, each of which could offer a different form of ‘expertise’ that could help youth to use digital technologies in responsible, safe and effective ways: (i) improving adult digital literacy; (ii) enhancing the school curriculum; (iii); holding digital technology companies to account. The findings illustrate that youth are critically aware of the risks in digital/online environments and they have self-awareness about their vulnerabilities.

Authors

• Victoria Anne Goodyear, University of Birmingham

• Kathleen M. Armour, University of Birmingham

• Mark Griffiths, University of Birmingham