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Future-Proofing Education: The What, Why, and How of Building a Digitally Intelligent Generation

Mon, March 24, 2:45 to 4:00pm, Palmer House, Floor: 3rd Floor, Crystal Room

Group Submission Type: Refereed Roundtable Session

Proposal

When we envision education in a digital society, the term ‘digital literacy’ is often part of the discourse. However, at an age where mobile screens are windows to the world, wars are fought in bytes and pixels, the lines between real and fake is increasingly blurred, and economies are driven by a few clicks, digital literacy demands to be more than just the skills to use digital tools. It must evolve to cultivate critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and digital intelligence necessary for one to navigate the challenges and opportunities that the age of AI, technology, and digital media brings.

It also means that digital literacy is no longer an optional or an additional skill, as treated by most educational systems, rather a necessity. What will it take for the global community to mainstream digital literacy? This panel brings together renowned experts who have pioneered groundbreaking initiatives in this domain to provide practical insights and strategies for developing the next generation of digitally intelligent learners effectively, equitably, and sustainably. Directly in line with the CIES 2025 theme, it will address a global imperative: preparing the global education ecosystem to help children thrive in a world where technology, and especially artificial intelligence (AI), is transforming educational, economic, and social landscapes.

Context:
The theoretical framework underpinning this panel draws on the evolving definition of digital literacy, which encompasses AI literacy, media literacy, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning. It positions digital literacy as a crucial component of a well-rounded, socially responsible education. Based on the constructivist learning theory, digital literacy in itself demands that learners are involved not only as passive recipients of digital tools and information but also as active challengers and inventive creators of it. There is an urgent need for digital literacy curricula that reflect this, and the panel will provide examples of the same. However, this is only part of the equation. The path from access to digital literacy to empowerment is rife with systemic barriers.
Educators must be empowered to deliver digital literacy curricula in the classroom effectively, regardless of their own degree of technical expertise. Similarly, governments at every level must create enabling policy environments that support the integration of digital literacy into education systems at all levels, and more importantly, for all children. This framework sets the stage for a detailed discussion on how to better prepare students, educators, and policymakers alike to face these emerging challenges.

Session Flow
1. Digital Literacy for the 21st Century
This session will critique existing frameworks of digital literacy and develop our understanding of it in its modern form. Drawing on extensive research in this field, the presenter will discuss the key components of digital literacy needed for the 21st century, situating their work at the intersection of media, technology, and education.

2. Innovative AI Curriculum Design: Insights from MIT RAISE’s Day of AI
The presenter will share findings from the program evaluations of MIT’s Day of AI, a global initiative that has reached over 100 countries. Through the program’s evaluation, they will demonstrate how the Day of AI curriculum fosters students’ critical engagement with AI, demonstrating that children can not only understand AI’s impact but also influence its design. This focus on keeping students in the designer’s seat makes Day of AI a leading advocate for innovative AI literacy curricula. The presenter will also discuss how the curriculum has been contextualized to fit diverse socio-economic contexts and learnings from the same.

3. Digital Equity in the Age of AI: Insights From Digital Promise
The presenter will explore how the digital divide exacerbates educational inequities, not just in terms access to digital infrastructure and tools, but also digital literacy skills. They will argue that the lack of access to digital literacy perpetuates cycles of economic and social disadvantage, particularly in marginalized communities. Drawing on Digital Promise’s extensive work in this area, the presentation will outline strategies for overcoming systemic barriers to digital equity, including innovative approaches to AI literacy, culturally responsive digital literacy curricula, and teacher professional development focused on ethical AI integration in the classroom.

4. Teaching With and About AI: Insights from TeachAI
This presentation will share insights from TeachAI, an initiative led by Code.org, that equips teachers and governments with the tools and knowledge to integrate AI literacy into their classrooms. It will explore best practices to guide educators on teaching with and about, regardless of their background, based on their qualitative feedback and program evaluations. Drawing from the qualitative feedback and learnings from TeachAI and its consortia of 100+ partners in the field, the presenter will also discuss how global collaborative effort can prepare the ecosystem at large in enhancing AI literacy initiatives and supporting scalable and sustainable solutions.

5. Inclusive Digital Strategies: Bridging Educational Gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean
The presentation discusses successful policy interventions from Latin America and the Caribbean that have enabled the integration of digital literacy into national education systems, what makes it work, and what does not. Through policy analysis and case studies, the presenter will showcase how sustainable policy changes can bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access to digital literacy for all.

Contribution:
This panel invites discussion about what digital literacy is and is not. Through diverse modes of inquiry, the panel addresses the theoretical, practical, and policy dimensions of fostering digital literacy, and especially AI literacy. It highlights evidence-based solutions, scalable strategies and robust policy frameworks that shape a digitally intelligent generation.

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