Digital Ambassadors Empowering Future-Ready Student Leaders
This article was featured in the BSME Newsletter 2024-25 | Edition 3
This year, Al Khor International School (AKIS) launched a dynamic Digital Ambassadors programme for students in Years 4–6, positioning learners at the heart of our digital strategy. Student leaders have supported the use of digital tools to enhance teaching and learning by leading professional learning sessions for teachers and learning assistants on using Minecraft Education Edition in the classroom.
The Digital Ambassadors programme is part of the school’s five-year digital learning strategy, which ensures students are developing key digital and technology skills. Aligned with the National Association for Education Technology (NAACE) EdTech Review Framework, and supporting the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Student Standards, the programme builds key competencies such as digital agency, collaboration, and online responsibility.
With over 60 applicants, 20 ambassadors were selected following a competitive interview process focused on their passion for technology, online safety awareness, and peer leadership potential.
The group is guided by the school’s Digital Learning Lead, who meets weekly with the ambassadors to develop skills and explore digital tools including Minecraft Education Edition, Canva, Magic School AI, and Sphero Bolt.
With this weekly training, the Digital Ambassadors then supported with hands-on training sessions in Minecraft, helping teachers feel at ease with the new digital platform. The initiative is supported by research that affirms the value of student leadership in educational technology. Research demonstrates that students trained as digital leaders, significantly enhance both teacher confidence and pedagogy when integrating new technologies. Our teachers have experienced the same increased confidence in using Minecraft across the curriculum to enhance teaching and learning.
Teachers have reported that our Digital Ambassadors are engaging more with their learning and developing their communication skills. The Digital Ambassador programme is giving more students valuable opportunities to contribute to the wider school and develop as young leaders.
As they develop their role, ambassadors will lead peer assemblies and class coding activities, host parent workshops, and publish a digital citizenship newsletter, ensuring a whole-school, community-wide approach to online safety and innovation.
In contrast to more passive digital learning models, this initiative places learners as co-creators of their educational experience. The programme is already fostering a culture where students don’t just use technology, they lead with it.