What are you going to do if you are asked a question about the black hole? In a flash, you’ll take out your phone and tap on the screen at lightning-fast speed, and answer the question in less than a second. Magical!
If we take a moment to wonder how easily we can access oceans of information, find answers to any question. We’ll be astonished to know how digitalization has changed the world. Everything is just a click away. But how much do you know and understand about the endless tools brimming with information? For instance YouTube videos, Google articles, and social media platforms.
In a nutshell are you digitally literate? Let’s hunt down the answer together.
Well, before we begin it’s crucial to know what digital literacy is all about. Read on!
What is Digital Literacy?
Digital literacy takes into account an individual’s ability to find, understand and navigate through various online platforms to communicate and convey one’s message intelligently.
Literacy is often considered to be tied to the academic aspect only. But it takes into account non-academic aspects as well.
You’ll understand it better when you’ll go through some examples of digital literacy.
Knowing how to ace the game of using browsers, PowerPoint, shooting videos, designing slides, blogs, Photoshop, etc. is what makes you digitally literate. These things may or may not be directly related to academics.
See! It’s that simple. However, it has deep roots and a lot of branches. Let’s talk about why we are so focused on Digital Literacy? What makes it so significant, especially for the students? Don’t worry folks. We’ve got answers to all those questions popping up in your head.
Significance of Digital Literacy
In a digital world, the importance of digital literacy can’t be described in any number of words. Especially for students.
However, there always are a string of points one can have a look at to at least have an idea of the significance of digital literacy.
- Digital-educated readers know the nuts and bolts of how to access and consume digital content.
- Students who develop digital literacy skills develop a great understanding of the basics of internet security such as creating strong passwords, and understanding and applying privacy settings.
To have an in-depth understanding of something, examples are the best way to make the picture crystal clear. The same logic goes for Digital literacy. So here we go paving our way through some real-life examples of digital literacy.
Real-Life Examples of Digital Literacy for Students
- Learning how to utilize email, text, wiki, blogs, web browsers, search engines, Photoshop, Powerpoint, video creation, and other tools to showcase learning.
- Evaluating various online resources for accuracy and trustworthiness of the information. It makes information accessible to almost anyone. From metropolitan cities to villages in far-flung areas.
- Using online classes to give new meaning to learning in the classroom. Online classes are a boon for students to catch up on concepts that they are unable to understand in class. These classes help them keep backlogs at bay.
- Choosing appropriate media to showcase learning. Having a deep understanding of which platforms illustrate your message and learning to peers and educators in the best way possible.
- Using an interactive whiteboard in the classroom for lessons and allowing students to use their creativity on the whiteboard for interactive classes. The students get to learn and interact in a creative manner where they can see, hear, and touch the whiteboard.
- Granting students the opportunity to use technology to showcase their learning. They get the opportunity to represent their ideas effectively. For example by preparing PowerPoint presentations to explain their learnings. And switch places with their teachers to make their peers understand various concepts.
- Use the web ( websites, videos, music) to enhance the learning of your students. The Internet has opened doors to countless opportunities to take learning to the next level.
- Students and teachers can curate online content to be utilized both in and out of the classroom which helps retain the students’ interest in the process of learning.
Now that we are familiar with some real-life examples of digital literacy for students. It won’t do justice to the topic if we don’t throw light on why digital literacy must be made a part of the world of education. Are we ready? Here we go!
- Highlights the value of critical thinking
Online platforms are our go-to sources for the majority of our stories. And some of these sources are indeed highly reliable as compared to others.
The astonishing fact that information is readily available to anyone with an Internet connection is a remarkable thing! With all the information that surrounds us 24/7, a large chunk of it may be false or unreliable. This leaves the readers in a vulnerable situation.
This is where critical thinking becomes a part of the picture. One needs to filter out information that adds value to their lives based on their critical thinking.
- Social Media platforms are a great way to learn and collaborate if used wisely
It doesn’t come as a surprise when we say that students are more experienced than their teachers when it comes to social media. They unapologetically run the show! However, instead of delivering alike to every post, the focus should be directed towards how to use social media to help with their education. Let’s understand this with some examples.
- Pinterest boards can be put to good use by providing and receiving feedback during group projects.
- Twitter may be used to construct polls for research purposes as well as to locate expert sources.
- Facebook or LinkedIn groups can be used to connect and collaborate with their peers and like-minded people.
- A detailed guide to keeping Plagiarism away from you
Although the Internet has formulated a stringent policy that makes it tricky to cheat. But other challenges show up at the students’ doorsteps. Students often find themselves trapped in situations like filing fraudulent documents even without explanation.
A study published in the journal ‘Higher Education’ found that many students do not fully understand what cheating is. They do want to know more about what it is and how to avoid it at all costs to maintain authenticity in their work.
For example, students often ‘borrow’ ideas or use phrases they find online. This practice diminishes the shine of their original work. They are later surprised to learn that they had fallen prey to plagiarism.
- Teach students to protect their online identity
Just making your account private won’t do. Privacy goes way beyond such boundaries. We must not forget that hackers are a part of online communities. Students who have grown up breathing social media are more likely to stumble on a bump set up by hackers. They may not take up measures to protect their privacy by managing their privacy settings and understanding privacy policies.
Reading privacy policy helps us conclude whether a particular platform is safe enough for us to use.
- Help students take charge of limiting their digital distractions
Digital tools and online resources have made learning more effective in a plethora of ways, hands down. But it has a bunch of distractions in store. Studies have shown that people struggle with digital impairments. This makes us feel distant and exhausted while scooping up delicious pieces of information. This takes a toll on our mental health, and education, and above all, it affects our physical well-being.
How? It eats up all our time, leaving no time to engage in physical activity.
- Offers authentic and long-lasting contexts for practice
Practicality is usually missing from our trunk of knowledge. Somehow teaching digital literacy helps learners lookout for practices using technology that reflect real-world use. Whether this means providing students the opportunity to try their hands on building their websites and mobile applications or respectfully engaging in online discussions that help enhance their personality.
- Persuading students to take exit from their comfort zones
We all are rolled up in a comfortable blanket of technology. But if we want the students to take charge as the future youth and behave as organized technology users. It’s vital to get them out of their comfort zone whenever possible. Digital Literacy helps them take up challenges.
All these examples have brought us face to face with how crucial it is to include Digital Literacy as a part of our education system.
Now that we’ve clinched an A+ grade in the subject of Digital Literacy. There’s no better time to dive into the world of Technological Literacy. Since both these terms are intertwined with one another.
What is Technological Literacy?
Technological Literacy covers one’s ability to access various technologies safely and effectively to convey one’s message to society and understand these tools in a better way.
It focuses on setting you on track to thrive in your career as well as your life using such technological tools.
Now that we know it’s an important aspect we must cover. The first thing that we need to look at is its merits. Here they are!
Examples of Technological Literacy
Smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops, etc. shine in the hands of almost every student. But just knowing to hold it doesn’t make a student a technologically literate one. Knowing how to use it smoothly is what counts!
Merits of Technological Literacy
Just like Digital Literacy, Technological Literacy also goes a long way in these technology-driven times. The two of its most visible merits are elucidated below-:
- Improving Decision Making
Technological education prepares people to arrive at informed decisions about their role as well as their consumers.
The world is full of products and services that promise to make our lives easier, happier, and healthier.
Decisions of leaders from all fields, including business and governance, take decisions that affect millions of people. These people in particular will reap the benefit of a greater understanding of technological engineering, and the knowledge that all technologies involve trading and may have unintended consequences.
With a high level of technical education, the incumbents of a nation will be able to manage technological advances in a manner that will benefit humanity and minimize negative impacts.
- Supporting a Modern Workforce
Economic growth is an aftereffect of technological literacy. Technology, especially in the high-tech sector, has been successfully promoting global economic growth.
While technical learning and technical skills are not the same things, they are closely related. Increasing the level of technology literacy will likely improve the state of the technology-driven economy.
For example, people who have a technological educational background can understand that science and technology are the foundation of our economic power. This may be a supporting pillar for research, education, and economic policies. On the other hand, citizens with technical knowledge may be less likely to support policies that will undermine the foundation of the economy.
Improving technological know-how will also help create new jobs in our technology-driven economy, thereby strengthening it.
Tips for effective Digital And Technology Learning
Some pro tips always come in handy to explain something in a hands-on manner. These pro tips are:
- Information literacy: Today’s students rely largely on the Internet as a primary source for both academic as well as personal use. This highlights how vital it is that you teach students how to evaluate information to ensure that it is accurate.
- Ethical use of digital resources: While your readers may not know that they need to quote information from books, do not forget that they also need to quote information from online sources. Talk to the students about intellectual property, copyrighted material, and the right way to use information.
- Understanding digital footprints of Digital And Technology Literacy: Digital track is the information a person shares online, especially on social media platforms. Text, images, multimedia, cookies, browsing history, IP addresses, passwords, and Internet service providers are all man-made creations.
- Protecting students online: With boundless information available online, students need to understand the basics of online security. Creating strong passwords, using privacy settings, and knowing what to share on social media will launch them in the right direction.
- Handling digital communication: Today, the majority of students use technology to communicate. That is why it’s imperative to talk to them about how to communicate safely and intelligently. That includes both personal and professional communication.
Bottom Line
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