In 2024, developing a broad digital skillset is a must. Any pupil looking striving to excel academically and prepare for the professional world needs a solid grasp of certain tech competencies to give them the best chance of success.
It’s never too soon to start building your tech skills, but getting to grips with technology as a student can help equip you with the digital literacy you need to master tools as they grow right alongside you.
In this article, we’ll list the most important digital competencies every young person should have and share some ways of developing them. Keep reading to learn more about the top tech skills every student should have in 2024.
Digital Formatting & File Creation
It’s no secret that when used effectively, technology can increase your productivity exponentially. With this in mind, finding new and innovative ways to use tech tools to improve your own capabilities should be integral to all your explorations as a student.
A great way to engage with how tech can boost your software is simply experimenting with how to get more out of your exam and revision notes. For instance, you may use a note-taking tool to record notes in real-time, and then use that tool to convert your notes into a neatly formatted Word doc. Or better still, you could even learn to use PDF tools to convert PDFs to Word docs, allowing you to transform class materials directly into your very own customisable revision notes.
Another key benefit of boosting your proficiency with the Microsoft Suite or even Google Suite and other file creation and formatting tools is naturally to make sure you can produce polished essays, presentations, and other gradable materials. Throughout your curriculum, you will naturally need to create slides, spreadsheets, and diagrams. Mastering these skills involves using pre-built templates, familiarising yourself with different formatting options, and managing documents efficiently. By getting to grips with these tools now, however, you can set yourself up to be a self-possessed professional who can make quick work of producing highly presentable documents in little to no time.
Basic Programming
Even if you have no plans to become a software developer, learning basic coding skills is beneficial because it allows you to solve common technical problems and can open doors to various educational and professional opportunities.
Knowing basic concepts such as loops, variables, and conditions helps you grasp how software works internally, which also translates into improved logical thinking. This is a valuable skill in both academic and everyday contexts.
Wondering where to start? Python is a language known for its easy-to-read syntax. It is used in important fields like data analytics, artificial intelligence, and, of course, web development.
JavaScript is the de facto language for building interactive sites and provides a good foundation for understanding other languages. Finally, Apple’s Swift is a powerful and easy-to-learn language for creating apps on its numerous platforms, including MacOS, iOS, and WatchOS. Given Apple’s strong brand reputation and high Apple NPS score, developers targeting these platforms can leverage this language to create high-quality apps that meet the expectations of discerning users.
If you’re looking to learn Python or another coding language, taking an online course can be extremely helpful.
Digital Security
Digital threats are extremely common in this day and age, so the sooner you become proficient with safeguarding yourself online, the better. The internet can be a scary place, and it’s incredibly easy to lose money or suffer harm to your reputation if you don’t protect yourself.
The basics of digital security include knowing how to use privacy settings in operating systems and social media accounts, creating unique and strong passwords, and recognizing phishing attempts through email messages and phone calls.
Other fundamental security skills include avoiding online scams, recognising suspicious links and emails, and avoiding pop-up windows that can potentially install malicious spyware and malware. It’s also vital to update your operating system and hardware with the latest security patches issued directly from the manufacturer. This includes all desktops, laptops, phones, tablets, WiFi devices, and printers.
In order to use the internet safely, it’s essential to learn basic digital safety skills.
Online Communication
Mastering online correspondence is vital for students to collaborate efficiently and develop good professionalism habits.
In today’s world, email is an essential mode of online communication. Knowing how to email effectively means more than knowing the technical ins-and-outs of various email platforms: you should be able to use clear and concise subject lines, a professional tone, and standard structures, including a salutation, body, and a signature to end the email.
Students should also know how to manage their inboxes, using filters to classify messages into categories for better organisation and responding promptly to messages from teachers and other professional contacts.
On top of being confident with emailing platforms, students should also be familiar with instant messaging tools and video chatting software. To communicate visually, it can also help to learn how to use photo and video editing tools. These tools can provide a range of benefits for all types of students and professionals – especially considering that more and more businesses are harnessing the power of video messaging, adopting the ethos that whilst a picture says 1000 words, a video says 10,000. So no matter what career pathway you’re looking to embark on, it certainly won’t hurt to equip yourself with some valuable multimedia skills.
Cloud-Based Collaboration
As a student, your classroom community probably utilises a Cloud-based resource for document management, instant messaging, file sharing, teamwork, and group projects.
These applications use a centralised repository where you can create folders to store or submit class assignments to instructors and share study materials with peers. It’s essential to familiarise yourself with the functions of various cloud-based collaboration platforms to help you succeed in groupworks and other team activities. Learning these skills also prepares you for online college degrees and jobs that require digital collaboration.
Several notable platforms include Adobe Document and Creative Cloud, Google Drive, and Slack. Each school has its own protocols for how students should utilise online resources, so it helps to familiarise yourself with these.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Solving technical problems is a skill that will be useful for life. Dealing with hardware failures, software bugs, and network connectivity issues is essential to take advantage of the convenience that computers and other digital tools offer.
Many problems can be solved by simply restarting your device, whether it’s a laptop or a printer. If that doesn’t work, check your connections. Ensure each cable is securely inserted into the correct port, and that the wire insulation isn’t damaged.
As noted earlier, keeping every device updated with the latest security patches and code improvements goes a long way toward preventing outages. Modern systems offer features to automatically download updates upon login. However, for learning purposes, doing this manually can be helpful for students.
Finally, familiarise yourself with the built-in diagnostic tools that come with most operating systems, including Linux, MacOS, and Windows. This will expedite the process of resolving problems and help to prevent issues from recurring.
Having a strong grasp of basic digital competencies will allow you to learn more advanced skills, making your resume stand out to future employers or college admissions offices. So be sure to use all your downtime as a student to hone your digital abilities and become an expert in the foundational competencies listed above.
