Digital transformation is part of the times we live in and Virginia Cabrera, a telecommunications engineer, is aware of this and is therefore working to “awaken the digital being that we all carry within” .
The technician knows that it is not possible to democratize technology without them speaking a simpler and more natural language, so she has decided to do her part by spreading the benefits and impact of digital transformation as a content blogger for SMEs and innovation for Telefónica experts and as a collaborating professor at the ESIC Institute of the Digital Economy (ICEMD), at the Higher School of Industrial Engineers at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and at the International University of La Rioja UNIR.
Her reflections are also on Balcon40.com but we wanted to talk to her in person about the development of “a more digital mentality” .
What are the new relationships like?
I'm glad you started with this question, because if the digital revolution has changed anything, it's our values . And with them, the relationships that sustain them. Today, in a global and hyperconnected world, where space and time are blurred, we all have a capacity that, in my opinion, changes everything: today we can choose. And people have decided to "tune in" only to that which informs us, entertains us or excites us.
Digital Transformation is essential today
To what extent do you think Digital Transformation improves education?
I think there are two dimensions to consider. On the one hand, there are the new capabilities that the use of digital tools for learning brings, making it richer, more interactive and above all more personalized. And above all, the ability that the digital revolution offers us to access information and educational resources. To everyone, at all times and in all places. That everyone has access to education is not an improvement, it is a dream come true!
What technologies do you think are and will be transforming educational reality and its future?
I would almost say that all new technologies, without exception, have found application in the field of education. Videos and interactive devices, online courses, chats and learning groups, collaborative projects, virtual reality, the Internet of Things, Big Data, artificial intelligence. Even blockchain is already available to support certification and evaluation issues. With this present, still almost untapped, the future is difficult to imagine…
I think it is essential to work on the value of change, the “what do we gain” list contact number and the “what is the purpose” of each change you introduce.
Well, from a first “version” where they were almost pure repositories of content to an experience where the level of interaction with teachers, resources and classmates is such that you forget you are not in a classroom. I think the challenge (for teachers and students) is to improve that digital empathy that allows us to listen and communicate from a distance with all the power of face-to-face communication.
What is the importance of “digital literacy” in the 21st century?
Being functional, digitally speaking, is essential. Anyone who is unable to use digital media to search for and manage information and to communicate is already out of the game. However, we should understand that knowing how to use digital tools does not necessarily build a “digital mindset.” And that is why we must also work on developing new capabilities , such as continuous learning, managing uncertainty and error, and developing our collaboration networks.
Big Data is key to Digital Transformation
What are the phases of digitization of an entity?
I believe that the starting point must be a deep analysis of who we are and who we can become, always with an eye on what we can offer our clients, who have needs and expectations of the 21st century and who expect us to satisfy them with 21st century means. And from this point, establish a plan at all levels that includes changes in processes, new tools, and above all, change management in people . Because people are the driving force of digital transformation. Which, by the way, has a lot to do with cultural change.
Access to education for everyone is not just an improvement, it is a dream come true!
What is Big Data and how does it relate to Digital Transformation?
Big data is a tool that allows us to infer behavioral patterns from the massive collection of data. It is a tool that will change the way we make decisions.
What obstacles do you think there may be when it comes to digitalizing a classroom?
I firmly believe in the saying “every teacher has his own book”? Each classroom is a world, but as in companies , the biggest obstacles always come from people and not from the tools. I think it is essential to work on the value of change, the “what do we gain” and the “what is the purpose” of each change you introduce.
According to data from the European Commission, 90% of future jobs will require digital skills, but there are also educators who are still opposed to change. What advice do you give them?