What is digital literacy?

[Terry Freedman]

Here are my views about digital literacy. Challenge me.

Digital literacy should be one of the key parts of any curriculum.

What is digital literacy? Let's express this in behavioural terms.

I believe that it should not be possible for young people to leave school without being knowledgeable enough to be safe online (not just from sexual predators but from financial, racist, and other types of predator too).

It should not be possible for anyone to leave school and then leave laptops in the back of cars, usb sticks containing sensitive data in pub car parks, or sell hard disks containing data on eBay. All of these kinds of actions are undertaken by digitally illiterate people in my opinion.

Digital literacy should not be seen only in defensive terms:

A digitally-literate person will be able to express herself by creating a presentation, a podcast or a video. She will be able to validate data before putting it into a model, and then verify the results of the modelling process in terms of the accuracy and plausibility of the data.

A digitally-literate person will be able to use software applications in elegant and efficient ways, and even perhaps in ways that could not have been foreseen by the program's creators.

There are, or should be, lots of opportunities for pupils to apply and practise their digital literacy skills, right across the curriculum. However, in order to do so, they need a deep, not a superficial, understanding of the processes involved. These are not trivial. Take, for example, the concept of data validation. It's quite sophisticated, and quite necessary. It's summed up in the adage, "garbage in, garbage out", meaning that if you put rotten data into a computer you'll get rotten results. Someone has to be able to ensure that the data going into the computer is not full of errors, or of the wrong type.

It's been found recently , by the government inspection body in England, that teachers tend to teach technology up to the limit of their own knowledge, and that this effectively holds children back. In my experience, where technology is taught by non-specialists, this kind of "dumbing down" goes on as a matter of course. It's not deliberate: teachers don't know what they don't know. It's therefore not a criticism as such. If I taught English, it would almost certainly be superficial, because I'm not an English specialist, even though I've been speaking the language for over half a century. Why should we assume that if we send someone on an interactive whiteboard training course and give them a laptop for producing their worksheets, and they book their vacations online, that they're qualified to teach technology?

In fact, if we are really serious about embedding technology in the curriculum, the answer is not to get rid of it as a subject and farm it out across the curriculum, but to do the precise opposite and increase the amount of time spent teaching it. That would give pupils a much firmer skills base to employ in other subjects. It would also give non-tech teachers more confidence in using technology in their classrooms because of the knowledge that the youngsters pretty much know what they are doing.

Thoughts? Comments? Let me know!

[Terry Freedman]

Thx Sean. I agree that everyone is capable, though not everyone gets the opportunity

[Timo Kleinod]

I read the article and think it was very intresting bcause i think that it is a topic which is worth thinking about it.
I agree with your explanation of digital literacy,
because i think that it is about the knowledge how to use the software or how to solve problems which possibly can occuer by using software, i also think that it is about the awarenes of information safty in the internet and in general and how to express yourself in the internet or how to use safely internet identities.
I also agree with you in the point that there should be digital literacy required and expected when you leave school because you will need all your live knowledge about the internet and computer in general.

[Terry Freedman]

Thx Timo. Yes, tech knowledge is definitely a good asset for the world of work I think.

[William_Wang]

I believe that you are correct, digital literacy is for us to have the ability to work online with safety. And therefore we should not sell hard disks and such with sensitive data within them. Not only worrying about the internet safety we also need to pay attention on having a positive manner at all times, and not putting sensitive information online. Even though many people may not be following the guidelines you gave, however we should not ban this technology, I believe the technology is one big part of everyone’s life that cannot be removed.

[Terry Freedman]

Yes, William, I agree. It's not just about selling hard disks containing data, which is bad enough (do u mean when people get rid of their old computer but don't trash the hard drive?). But people leaving laptops lying around to get stolen, and losing usb sticks with thousands of people's details on them (that has happened in UK)

[Yeon Jee Choi]

Digital literacy, in my point of view, is using digital sources in appropriate behavior. We should respect and behave in a good manner in order to be one of a good digital citizens. I mostly agree to your opinion. I also believe that teachers holding children, however, I don't think this usually happens. I don't believe that most of teachers are less knowledgable and less skilled than students. Some teachers might be less skilled, but to teach students, I believe most of the teachers had learned using digital technology.

[Terry Freedman]

I agree, Yeon, to an extent. But I think a good teacher can teach people to be digitally literate even if they're not as skilled as their students.

[Jeong Eun Park]

I agree that digital literacy and I think it is a good idea for every body, because people can study or work with many types of people and I can get various opinion or information. If we want to talk with many people or show your opinion to many people, you can do a presentations to present in front of audience. But if you are shy or nervous, you can create a movie or a video.

[Ann-Sharlien Ebeling]

I think that the Digital literacy is ok but it is not really important, i think. Maybe for the School is the Digital literacy ok, but i'm not really sure, what we can learn here or so! We have contact with others schools, and we can learn what about technology, but what?!?! You mean creating a presentation, a podcast or a video..but i think many persoen know this befor! But maybe is Digital literacy really good.

I have read this, but i didn't understand so much!!

[Terry Freedman]

Exactly, Jeong! The internet and web 2.0 makes it possible for everyone to take part, whatever their preferences.

[Terry Freedman]

Hi, Ann-Sharlien. Sorry if I didn't it explain it very well. What I meant was that i think being digitally literate is not just about being safe, but beinbg able to use the technology in a creative way too. If someone can make a podcast already, that's great. But schools shouldn't just be concerned with protecting kids, but in giving them opportunities to make podcasts etc as well. Would you agree?

[Seong Min Choi]

I believe in your opinion as well. I believe that there are many people distributing viruses and spywares through online applications is not Digital Literacy. I believe digital literacy is where people applies programs to an advantage. Also, to be digitally literate you need to be able to show respect to other digital users. There are many functions in techlonogy, and people are able to communicate through online. However, people should be aware of respecting each other through communicating online and make new relationship.