Unit 1: Digital Literacy
Digital Literacy Skills for Teaching with Technology
Goal: Demonstrate understanding of digital literacy skills
What is digital literacy?
Understanding digital literacy
Literacy has undergone a radical shift in meaning. The word "literacy" was widely used to refer to the capacity to read and write, as well as the ability to do basic math. Today, we are all aware that this is not sufficient. Because we live in such a digital and technologically advanced world, we are expected to have a much broader range of abilities in order to function in it successfully. Everyone, regardless of age, culture, or socioeconomic status, should be able to work with and comprehend information utilizing a variety of digital tools at all levels of Bloom's Taxonomy—remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and producing (Callens, 2014).
Many educators in the 20th century believed students were just another commodity to be mined for the sake of producing a finished product. A factory mindset and the assumption that students required knowledge fed to them led to the development of standardized testing in schools. Today's students, on the other hand, must be able to assess their existing level of knowledge and determine how to expand and enhance it while making judgments in the face of unpredictability. So, what does it mean to be literate in the 21st century? The term literate can take on many meanings, however, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE, 2020) define literacy as, a set of common cultural and communication behaviors amongst sections of the population, literacy evolves in unison with society and technology—meaning what encompasses literacy can change over time and must evolve with the changing needs of society.
Various titles have referred to the concept of digital literacy, often combining words like computer, information, technology, or digital with literacy, competency, or fluency. The phrase "digital literacy" has recently acquired popularity across the world. Digital literacy is an integrating but not overriding term that focuses on the digital without confining itself to computer abilities (Murray & Perez, 2014). The phrase "digital literacy" was first used in print in 1997, and it is credited to Paul Gilster. He pointed out that digital literacy is a mentality that focuses on mastering ideas rather than keystrokes. Based on this principle, established and accepted definitions of digital literacy are based on three principles:
- the ability to access and use a variety of hardware devices and software applications
- the ability to understand and critically analyze digital content
- the ability to create with digital technology
One of the most popular interpretations of digital literacy today is that it may be seen as a collection of interconnected abilities and capabilities required to thrive in the digital age. Digital literacy is comparable to the fundamental competencies of learning, reading, writing, oral communication, and numeracy. Depending on the context for use, whether it's personal, workplace, or education, digital literacy skills exist on a continuum with varying competency levels.
UNIT 1 Activity
For this activity, discuss some of the key skills that are needed in the 21st century. Share your own prior knowledge or assumptions about digital literacy. How have you applied digital literacy in the classroom or work environment? Please comment on at least one other participants post if possible.
Please click on the following link to begin your discussion: https://padlet.com/embed/4s8bo3qvplqjm9ec
Digital Literacy a Critical Skill for the 21st Century
Understanding 21st Century Digital Literacy
To ensure no one is left behind in today's technologically advanced world, individuals of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds must have a set of digital skills to independently live, work, study, and participate in modern society. Persons living in the twenty-first century who lack digital literacy skills may find themselves relying on others for assistance, as digital literacy skills are required to discover, procure, and maintain employment, as well as to perform other everyday tasks such as scheduling appointments and retrieving information to make educated and informed decisions.
Digital literacy—Literacy for the 21st century means having the capacity to read and analyze media (text, voice, and visuals), recreate data and images via digital modification, and assess and apply new information received from digital settings. However, most important is the capacity to make intelligent judgments about what we see online since most information is now received from online media sources. Literacy has always been necessary for people to be completely integrated into society. However, today a whole new literacy is needed in our fast-paced, media-saturated, and automated culture, one that goes beyond the capacity to just read and write (NCTE,2019). Given the limitless information at our fingertips through technology, people need to be able to communicate, create, modify, design, and self-actualize via several literacies and skills related to digital literacy such as:
- INFORMATION LITERACY- the process of discovering and evaluating information from the web in order to determine its authenticity and allow it to be shared.
- MEDIA LITERACY- the capacity to read information or material critically and to creatively produce communication through the use of multimedia.
- INFORMATION and COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY LITERACY - the ability to choose and utilize digital devices, programs, and services to complete activities that require internet access.
- IDENTITY MANAGEMENT – the ability to comprehend how to protect the safety and security of one's online identity while also fostering a positive environment.
- COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION – refer to an individual's ability to engage in digital networks in the context of teaching and learning.
- LEARNING SKILLS - understanding how to study and learn in an environment rich in technology; this is the ability to employ technology in order to satisfy the requirement for efficient education.
- DIGITAL SCHOLARSHIP is being able to connect and engage in professional and research activity using the internet and other digital media. Having a thorough grasp of topics needing fundamental basic abilities is a key part of becoming digitally literate.
The FOUR C's
Having a thorough grasp of fundamental aptitude in what is referred to as the FOUR Cs required in the 21st century is key to developing digital literacy skills. The FOUR C’s to learning and becoming digitally literate for the 21st Century:
- CRITICAL THINKING – learning how to solve issues and not accept assertions without first investigating the truth. It is the capacity to distinguish between facts and opinions and to not only study a collection of facts or statistics but also discover them for the purpose of understanding what you are doing.
- CREATIVITY - necessitates thinking beyond the box and taking delight in what is distinctively theirs. It implies they will be able to look at an issue from several angles. Creativity looks beyond the usual way of doing things. However, creativity does not always guarantee success, but it may lead to another avenue that may lead to a solution.
- COMMUNICATION- requires explanation of thoughts in the most comprehensible and concise manner possible. Includes the ability to express concepts effectively and plainly in a variety of forms — face to face, electronically mediated, or in a mixed method.
- COLLABORATION - requires the ability to collaborate effectively with others to complete a task or solve an issue. Includes practice of interpersonal skills.
Supplemental Reading
Digital Literacy in Higher Education: A Report https://mediaeducationlab.com/sites/default/files/Digital%20Literacy%20in%20HigherEd%202017%20final.pdf
Digital Literacy Self-Assessment
It's time to assess your digital literacy by taking one of the self-assessment exams below
https://www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/
OR
https://papaseducation.com/digital-literacy-self-assessment-tool/
Unit 1: Reflection
Now that you've completed your self-assessment, were you surprised at all by your digital literacy assessment results? Please share your findings with a reflective piece using the link below. Do you feel the assessment was accurate? What skill sets of digital literacy could use improvement? What are some ways in which you plan to improve your digital literacy skills?
Discussion here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ssfzVD3oM6pNvCFX2JQhktv7yotQniPDkkdHpRZMRFY/edit?usp=sharing
Next: Unit 2: Technological Pedagogy in Higher Education
Course Home Page: Digital Literacy Skills for Teaching with Technology
Unit 2: Technological Pedagogy in Higher Education
Unit 3: Information and Communication Technology in Education
Unit 4: Integrating Technology into Pedagogical Practices
References and Resources
Callens, M.V. (2014). Using Bloom’s taxonomy to teach course content and improve social media literacy. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 3(1), 17-26. https://web-s-ebscohost-com.citytech.ezproxy.cuny.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=d3198cbd-79c5-418c-88a3-8449374bbb00%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=100316282&db=eue
Definition of Literacy in a Digital Age. (2019, November 7). NCTE. https://ncte.org/statement/nctes-definition-literacy-digital-age/
Murray, M. C., & Pérez, J. (2014). Unraveling the digital literacy paradox: How higher education fails at the fourth literacy. Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 11, 85-100. Retreived from http://iisit.org/Vol11/IISITv11p085-100Murray0507.pdf
Ransdell, S., Kent, B., Gaillard-Kenney, S., & Long, J. (2010). Digital immigrants fare better than digital natives due to social reliance. British Journal of Educational Technology, 42(6), 931–938. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2010.01137.x
Ronda, N. S. (2009). The Many Faces of Digital Literacies: Moving Forward. E-Learning and Digital Media, 6(3), 292–297. https://doi.org/10.2304/elea.2009.6.3.292