I struggled to find a simple definition of digital literacy. In theory, it is simple. It is literacy in a digital environment. Despite my simplistic definition, it is actually more complicated.
Digital literacy is the ability to read, write, and evaluate information on various digital platforms. Digital literacy is especially important today. In most countries around the world, students, teachers, and the general public are exposed to forms of literature on a daily basis, whether it is digital media, or simply a newspaper. Much of our work and play occurs online these days. Our ability to review and evaluate the information provided to us greatly determines our success in school, work, and business. As most of the information that we are accessing today is digital, our digital literacy is more important than ever (Mcclurken et al., 2013).
Students are now required to be able to do research online, compose papers, and evaluate others’ research on school subjects/topics. We are faced with multiple forms of media throughout each day. Whether it is advertisements, literature, or art (music, poetry, news), we must constantly assess and digest information. “Increasingly, information is being offered in a new way: instead of black letters printed on a white page, the new format blends words with recorded sounds and images into a rich and volatile mixture” (Lanham, 1995, p.1). Truly, the way we access and interact with literature has changed.
Students are not only communicating with each other and information on the internet. “In addition to their peers, students can communicate with members of government, professionals in various fields, and online mentors” (Faigley, 1999, p.132). This concept is especially important to highlight, as information is not only more freely accessible, but now interactive. Being able to distinguish a credible source from an untrustworthy one is especially important for learners.
Personally, I would like to help my students navigate the digital platform, accessing, investigating, and digesting the information they interact with. I think creating a (private) blog would be beneficial to learners in the classroom. Blogging is a great way to convey personal opinions, compose well-researched written pieces, and to get a sense of contribution to the online community. Today, especially in light of COVID-19, online learning is becoming the new “normal.” I want to help my students by introducing them to the wonders of digital literacy in a safe, healthy environment.
There are many potential consequences of online education and developing digital literacy in the classroom. Safety and personal security of information is important to maintain. There are potential risks involved in blogging students’ stories and personal thoughts. There are, however, endless positive consequences of accessing digital literacy at a young age (for instance, in elementary school). Children are being exposed to online communities at younger and younger ages. Creating digital literacy at a young age, in a safe, healthy manner may actually help students to stay safe in their own forays into the online world at home.
https://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/digital-literacy-fundamentals
References List
Faigley, L. (1999). Beyond Imagination: The Internet and Global Digital Literacy. In HAWISHER G. & SELFE C. (Eds.), Passions Pedagogies and 21st Century Technologies (pp. 129-139). University Press of Colorado. doi:10.2307/j.ctt46nrfk.10
Lanham, R. (1995). Digital Literacy. Scientific American, 273(3), 198-200. Retrieved September 18, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24981795
Mcclurken, J., Boggs, J., Wadewitz, A., Geller, A., & Beasley-murray, J. (2013). Digital Literacy and the Undergraduate Curriculum. In Cohen D. & Scheinfeldt T. (Eds.), Hacking the Academy: New Approaches to Scholarship and Teaching from Digital Humanities (pp. 80-86). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. Retrieved September 18, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv65swj3.20