C-DELTA: An initiative to boost digital education skills

In an effort to give digital education a further push, an intergovernmental organization created by the Commonwealth Heads of Government has launched an online platform to help teachers and students improve their digital education skills.

Launched by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), the platform will help teachers and students assess and learn digital education skills.

Selected teachers and students will receive a certificate according to their depth of understanding – beginner, intermediate or fluent.

“Digital Education skills will be the primary skills for success in the 21st century. Through this platform, COL intends to strengthen the digital education skills environment in the Commonwealth,” Sanjaya Mishra, COL’s e-learning specialist, was quoted as saying by a news agency.

“Named Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA), the online platform is designed to allow students and teachers to develop communities and demonstrate their effective use of digital education tools, influence others as leaders in digital education skills,” the COL said in a statement.

For smooth functioning of the C-DELTA, the Canadian organization, headquartered in the British Columbia, will work with the governments and educational institutions of Commonwealth member-states.

“Developed in collaboration with the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching, and the University of Cape Town, South Africa, the curriculum framework and modules for C-DELTA have been developed by experts and peer-reviewed by an advisory group from across the Commonwealth,” the statement added.

The first three modules are for students, while all the seven modules are for teachers and practitioners.

Another objective of the C-DELTA is to promote a digital education environment in Commonwealth countries by engaging with governments, educational institutions, teachers, and civil society organizations. It is designed to assess digital education competencies, develop learning materials around digital education skills, provide training opportunities for teachers, and monitor students’ achievement.