Perspectives of Children and Young People on Their Education as Preparation for Their Future in the Digital Age: In-depth Qualitative Study in Five European Countries

Abstract

AbstractAs the world is moving into the digital age, it is vital to understand how well education is preparing children and young people for their future lives in the digital age. This chapter, therefore, explores children’s and young people’s attitudes and perspectives on the use of digital technologies in education and on how education is preparing them for their future in the digital age. Data collected through the DigiGen project in five European countries will be the subject of an in-depth qualitative study. This will focus on children’s and young people’s access to and the availability of digital technologies at school and outside the school for school purposes; their information gathering and evaluation, content creation and use of digital technologies for interaction and communication; their attitudes towards the use of digital technologies, including the most liked and disliked aspects, benefits, challenges, and risks; and their perspectives on their teachers’ willingness to teach with and about digital technologies. The second focus is on the different age groups between 9 and 16 in the five European countries. By addressing these key issues, the research aims to provide valuable insights into children’s and young people’s perspectives on their education as preparation for their future in the digital age.