Digital Literacy

What is Digital Literacy

Digital literacies are capabilities that an individual has acquired in learning and working in a digital society.

It goes beyond functional IT skills to describe a set of digital behaviours, practices and identities. What it means to be digitally literate changes over time and across contexts. Digital literacies are a set of academic and professional practices supported by diverse and changing technologies in a digital world. It covers the physical operations of digital devices and the software operations in those devices (UNESCO, 2018).

“Digital Literacy is the ability to search, navigate, create, communicate and collaborate, think critically, analyse information, and address safety and wellbeing using a variety of digital technologies. These skills are essential for individuals to participate effectively in today’s society.”

Digital Literacy is as important as the skills of Learning, Reading, Writing, Oral Communication and Numeracy, and is increasingly critical for someone’s participation in the workforce.

Check out: Department of Education, Skills and Employment

Developing Digital Literacy skills

Digital learning uses technology or makes effective use of technology. It includes adaptive learning, blended learning; mobile learning, online learning; virtual reality, augmented reality; learning analytics, learning objects

One should know the technologies and systems, platforms and software such as PC, Mobiles, tablets, apps, student portal, LMS, CMS, Moodle, Black board, Canvas, and use them to address situations, complete tasks

Technology-enabled learning and accessing digital resources include texts and chats, Videos, Podcasts, Games, simulations, Open educational resources (OERs), E-books, E-journals and databases, Online lectures

For more info: Your Career, Australian government

Applying Digital Literacy skills 

To Create, Communicate, Collaborate with peers, Produce

We use digital devices and software to address a new communication or information need, aside from software applications to communicate, organise and display information. We also use connections to access, organise and display information, and for internet search commands to improve and narrow search results, as well as troubleshoot solutions to a recurring digital technology problem.

Digital literacy skills allow us to connect and collaborate with others using digital devices and software to communicate, understand uses of the internet for activities and academic work, and apply digital netiquette conventions, Initiate and maintain online communications

Applying Digital Literacy skills in education and training - using digital devices in teaching, learning and research, personal and community, using digital devices with family and friends via social media and stay engaged in the community, workplace and employment, using digital devices at work for communications and collaborations, teamwork , brainstorming and tasks (Zoom, Webex, Microsoft teams).

Further readings: Digital Literacy JISC

Digital Safety

It is about demonstrate understanding of virus protection software, knowledge of system safety to ensure data, aware of strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts of digital or online activity, identify the purpose and intended audience of online content protection, use technology wisely.

Remember to be careful when sharing information over the internet, understand the importance of secure information and privacy, take personal responsibility for identifying and managing risk factors.

Digital Safety Tips are to keep personal information professional and intact, Practice safe browsing, Make sure your internet connection is secure, Be selective what you download, Choose strong passwords, Be careful what you post

Check out: UNESCO

For Digital Literacy workshops, check out Online Workshops.