Element Four: Digital Literacy
Learning Objectives:
After this tutorial, you should be able to:
- Define digital literacy.
- Evaluate the challenges of using digital technology in
the area of digital literacy.
- Explain how you can apply the literacy element in an educational setting.
- Define digital literacy.
- Evaluate the challenges of using digital technology in
the area of digital literacy.
- Explain how you can apply the literacy element in an educational setting.
What is Digital Literacy?
Digital literacy is defined as the process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology (Ribble, 2015). For students to be good digital citizens they must be able to understand how technology works so it can be used appropriately. Many school districts are just now getting caught up on using technology in the classroom. Unfortunately, teachers are lagging behind in teaching students how to use it appropriately.
Issues with Digital Literacy
As technology evolves, students are moving towards using the cloud. The cloud is an internet-based form of computing that offers on-demand access to technology resources such as networks, servers, and storage. Educators need to know how to integrate newer technology like the cloud with mobile tools such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets (Ribble, 2015).
Often, teachers have not had adequate professional development courses on the appropriate usage of technology in the classroom. According to Ribble, most educators are unaware of what they can do with technology beyond typing papers or doing internet searches (2015).
Often, teachers have not had adequate professional development courses on the appropriate usage of technology in the classroom. According to Ribble, most educators are unaware of what they can do with technology beyond typing papers or doing internet searches (2015).
Resolving the Issues
In order to properly prepare educators to use technology to stimulate learning, teachers, and districts need to be partners in providing appropriate technology resources (Ribble, 2015). Looking for alternative ways to present material digitally will keep students engaged and motivated. A couple ways schools can do this is to create distance education programs for students and encourage teachers to create content for the web, which students can access when they are away from the classroom.
NPR Radio Broadcasts
NPR BROADCAST #1
June 29, 2011
Closing Digital Divide, Expanding Digital Literacy
8:14
This NPR broadcast discusses the "racial digital divide" and how black and Latino youth are overcoming it by finding their way online with cellphones.
NPR BROADCAST #2
February 17, 2014
A Push To Boost Computer Science Learning, Even At An Early Age
6:05
A Push To Boost Computer Science Learning, Even At An Early Age
6:05
This NPR broadcast discusses how computer science classes are being offered less and less at many public schools. However, there is a company in California who is teaching kids as young as five yrs. old the basics of coding in a fun and easy to understand way.
NPR BROADCAST #3
March 10, 2016
America's High School Graduates Look Like Other Countries' High School Dropouts
1:54
America's High School Graduates Look Like Other Countries' High School Dropouts
1:54
This NPR broadcast discusses how Americans come in last compared to other developed countries when it comes to technology.
References
Ribble, M. (2015). Digital citizenship in schools: Nine elements all students should know. Eugene, OR: International
Society for Technology in Education.
Society for Technology in Education.