WDR: Ms. Henkelmann, how can learning at home and alone on the computer be an opportunity for children and young people?
Sarah Henkelmann: It’s not about learning alone and on the computer at home, but about acquiring skills by working with digital learning methods that the children would otherwise not be able to develop. And just because there are no two or three children in front of the PC does not mean that they are alone. There are definitely programs and methods in which learning groups can be formed in virtual space, in which the children can then work on something together.
WDR: Which competencies are promoted by digital learning?
Henkelmann: These are the four Ks: communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. The children should not only learn how to work with digital media, but also talk to each other about it and question what they experience there.
WDR: Why is that so important?
Henkelmann: Because these children and young people grow up in a digital world. We work digitally, we communicate digitally and we often use digital media to keep in touch with other people in our private lives. In addition, virtually all knowledge in the world is accessible via digital channels if you know how to find it.
WDR: But are such learning concepts suitable for all students?
Henkelmann: Yes, because another advantage of digital learning is that it can be adapted to the needs of individual students. For example, pupils with special needs can take more time for content and do not have to adjust to the speed of the whole class. Provided that the teachers who teach digitally are trained and have good concepts.
WDR: So it is not enough that schools are equipped with sufficient technology?
Henkelmann: By far not. What good is the best car if you don’t know how to drive it. But equipping schools with sufficient and, above all, the right technology is essential. Even if you want to prevent students from being excluded from this form of learning. And it’s not even just about children and adolescents from lower-income families. Or do you know a family with three children who own five computers?
The interview was conducted by Jörn Kießler
–
