Until recent times 'literacy' has usually been defined in terms of the ability to read and write. This is because until the late twentieth century, the written word was the main 'technology' in use, and being literate meant being a competent user and interpreter of the written word. Computers and the internet have brought about a shift in practice and a new form of literacy has emerged - that of 'digital literacy'.
In these activities you can explore the meaning of digital literacy and the kind of skills that the term suggests You can listen to some students' ideas about the meaning of the term and decide what your own view is. You can also reflect on some specific digital literacy skills for study and consider whether or not they belong to your own skill set.
Activity 1: Student views on the meaning of digital literacy
What do you understand the term 'digital literacy' to mean? What kind of skills or abilities are involved?
Instruction
Write your own definition of the term in the text area provided. Next, watch the video and listen to students giving their views of what digital literacy means. Then read the feedback.
Here are the students' views on the meaning of digital literacy: Speaker 1: Helping me to use the internet and access information. Speaker 2: Skills required to use the internet efficiently. Speaker 3: One's competency in using the internet for anything - using computers,media to your advantage. Speaker 4: Being able to use the internet; different tools on the web; using them properly; being able to benefit from them. Speaker 5: I see it as how good you are at using technology but i'm not really sure. Speaker 6: The use of computer or internet for your website or project; the use of internet, in general. Speaker 7: Ability to apply knowledge of any working technological device and navigate your way around it (the internet) efficiently; and recognising the weaknesses. Speaker 8: Need to be flexible in learning new things and trying to generalise and apply this across programs (in response to rapidly changing digital world); need to learn programming.
Which view is closest to your own? Do any of their views influence how you now understand digital literacy?
Activity 2: How can we categorise different types of digital literacy?
Digital literacy is often talked about in the plural form, as 'digital literacies'. In this activity you are going to explore what different kinds of digital literacy there might be, especially in the context of study.
Instruction
Consider these skill areas in relation to the term, digital literacy. Select the tick symbol next to any which you think are included in its meaning and the cross symbol next to those which are not. Then read the feedback. Open the help section first if you would like to review some formal interpretations of digital literacy.
Depending on who you speak to, the term, digital literacy, can embrace a variety of different skills or competences. Here is one definition of digital literacies: Digital Literacies are a set of competences that all relate to using technology for some task. There are set of 'literacies' which fall under the Digital Literacies umbrella. These include: Information Literacy Media Literacy Visual Literacy ICT Literacy (Digital Literacies Special Interest Group, University of Southampton, 2012)
Here is another definition: 'Digital literacy defines those capabilities which fit an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society' (JISC, 2011)
So the term, digital literacy, could be defined broadly and encompass a range of computer and online literacies as above. Alternatively, in some contexts it is sometimes defined quite narrowly in terms of one specific aspect of digital practice.
Being technically competent in using a computer. Communicating efficiently with others through the use of online technologies. Performing tasks effectively in a variety of digital environments. Using digital technologies, tools or networks to find, evaluate, apply or create information. The ability to operate a range of digital mobile devices. Being good at locating, evaluating and synthesising information from the internet. Being able to select the right online tool to accomplish a task. Understanding how copyright may apply in an online environment.
The term, digital literacy, in a broad sense, includes all of these skill areas: Communicating efficiently with others through the use of online technologies. Performing tasks effectively in a variety of digital environments. Using digital technologies, tools or networks to find, evaluate, apply or create information. Being able to select the right online tool to accomplish a task.
The following could also be included in a broad definition of the term, digital literacy, but could also be categorised into specific types of digital literacy such as ICT, information literacy, media literacy, visual litercy etc (as described in the help section above): Being technically competent in using a computer. This is an ICT skill. The ability to operate a range of digital mobile devices. This is also an ICT skill. Being good at locating, evaluating and synthesising information from the internet. This is often referred to as a part of information literacy, relating closely to library skills. Understanding how copyright may apply in an online environment. This is also referred to as a part of information literacy, relating closely to library skills.
Activity 3: Your own digital literacy practices and study
In this activity you are going to consider how digitally literate you are in relation to some typical study related tasks.
Instruction
Think about your own digital practices. Decide which of these you already do and drag them into the 'I do' box. Drag those that you do not do into the 'I don't' box. Then read the feedback.
I do
I don't
Bookmark useful sites with Diigo/Delicious
Customise phone with apps for study
Share project files with Dropbox
Use Google Docs to write group reports
Use Powerpoint or Prezi for presentations
Use reference organising tools like Zotero
Use social networks to contact classmates
How many of these particular digital practices are part of your own skill set in relation to study?
While you may know of or use many web 2.0 tools and applications such as Twitter, Google+ etc for social networking purposes, you may not have considered using some of them in relation to study or course work. University study can involve collaboration and networking too and so many of these tools can serve a useful purpose within an educational context. Using them appropriately in study contexts can help you reach your targets quickly and more efficiently.
Communicating efficiently with others through the use of online technologies.