In the 21st century, digital skills are essential in education as they prepare educators for the modern workforce, enhance learning experiences through interactive tools, and foster creativity and innovation. These skills enable collaboration, improve accessibility, and promote lifelong learning. By integrating technology into education, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and digital citizenship. Digital literacy ensures that students can effectively navigate a techdriven world, accessing global resources and personalizing their educational journey. 21st-century digital skills include digital literacy, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, creativity, innovation, STEAM and digital ethics as key elements. Adaptability and flexibility to new technologies are also crucial for navigating modern life, work, and learning environments. Digital skills like these are fundamental for thriving in a technology-driven world. They encompass the ability to use Digital tools, Innovative and Learner-Centered Pedagogies: Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Flipped Classroom, and Gamification strategies. Communication and collaboration skills are vital for working in global, digital environments. Critical thinking and problem-solving help teachers leverage technology to address complex challenges, while creativity and innovation foster the development of new ideas, apps, and digital content and analyse data for informed decision-making. Together, these 21st century digital skills are foundational for the professional success in the field of education. Henry B. Adams once said, "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." In alignment with this sentiment, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes integrating 21st-century digital learning skills into the contemporary education system. In this context, Thakur Shyamnarayan College of Education and Research, in collaboration with the Council of Teachers Professional Development (CTPD), have organized a National E-Conference on “Building 21st Century Skills in Educators.” The chapters of the conference are divided into two broad categories and this „Book-2‟ deals with „Digital Skills; An Innovative Transformation in Education‟. The key objective of the book is to serve as a comprehensive academic resource for knowledge sharing, fostering awareness, and promoting collaborative efforts in the areas of education and technology. It aims to provide educators across diverse fields with contemporary digital knowledge on key issues and challenges in achieving digital skills within education. The content is structured to enhance understanding of educational innovation, with a focus on digital inclusivity, digital transformation, and the development of technological skills in education. The book attempts to share the innovative ideas and engage in meaningful discourse related to „Digital Skills; An Innovative Transformation in Education‟ comprising 15 interrelated chapters, it is a valuable resource to empower teachers, teacher educators, academicians, researchers, student-teachers and those passionate about the close intersection of sustainability and education.
We hope that the book will contribute to educational technological development in India & across globe. This noble attempt by the editors will serve as a source of inspiration and encourage positive actions and initiatives aimed at building a digital learning environment develop their capacities with essential 21st-century teaching and learning skills. It helps in ultimately promoting the holistic development of learners and creating a self-reliant, „atmanirbhar‟ digital generation, capable of meeting global challenges.