Students who study Engineering develop a language that enables them to analyse, respond and manage ongoing technological and societal change.
Australia needs enterprising and innovative individuals with the ability to make discerning decisions concerning the development, use, and impact of technologies. These skills should not be limited to students who are interested in the field of engineering, architecture, project management, aviation, surveying or spatial sciences.
Further to developing specific Engineering literacy (language, knowledge and content) students need to learn and apply ‘digital fluencies’ – independent skills and a mindset that will support any future endeavours. So, what is ‘digital fluency’?
Digital fluency is the ability to:
- leverage basic literacies (knowledge, content, tools, and platforms);
- think critically and collaboratively;
- work as a team and independently;
- engage with contemporary and emerging technologies to solve wicked problems while anticipating future ones.
These Digital fluencies include:
- curiosity fluency;
- communication fluency;
- creation fluency;
- data fluency; and
- innovation fluency.
Digital fluency has become a prerequisite for learning, securing a job and participating in society. The future has arrived.
by GLENN STEVENSON