Digital innovation in schooling: Policy efficacy, youth cultures and pedagogical change (Discussion Paper)

This is a brief invited discussion paper about digital learning resources. I draw from my own expertise in literacy education, teacher education, curriculum and school reform, and policy sociology. I also draw upon my experience as Dean of Education and teacher education –and also as a senior Ministerial adviser, Deputy Director General of Schools, and policy writer and adviser for several Australian states, and other jurisdictions.\ud \ud My comments are 'inexpert': I have not worked directly in the design and construction of digital learning resources (DLRs), nor in the field of cognitive learning sciences. Much of the work in cognitive science and in the development of online digital resources to date is educationally valuable and holds great potential. However, once lodged in the complex cultural ecologies of systems bureaucracies and schools – the key issues of policy uptake and implementation, student and teacher cultural use, transfer and practice of digital tools become focal. My aim here is to focus on these issues – rather than the quality and 'science' of curriculum production per se