Digital Literacy
Digital Literacy is defined as “the interest, attitude, and ability of individuals to appropriately use digital technology and communication. Tools to access, manage, integrate, analyze, and evaluate information, construct new knowledge, create, and communicate with others” on the Government of BC website. It is important to understand Digital Literacy as a teacher, a student, or in any walk of life. We live in a world that relies heavily on technology. We are constantly on the internet, using our phones and computers, and other technology to help us learn, communicate, and help make our lives easier. As teachers, we will also be using technology on a regular basis, so it is important to be as proficient as we can be with technology. We will be communicating with many different parents on a regular basis, mostly through email communication, so it is important to understand how to use your email to communicate with parents and other staff effectively.
Understanding digital literacy is important because technology can be incorporated into lessons to make them easier for a teacher and help create an effective learning experience for a student. Students are more engaged when technology is involved in their learning because it is already a part of their everyday lives. Students can use technology to help them with schoolwork and create collaborative opportunities with fellow classmates that they may not otherwise be able to do without access to technology. Understanding digital literacy will help student improve their skills on regard to identifying what good information looks like and what is misinformation looks like on the Internet. Technology can provide students to a wide variety of sources and learning resources. Technology can be used to differentiate learning, by creating content such as slide shows, videos, and blog posts rather than traditional forms of schoolwork, such as essays and worksheets. These types of projects help students get creative. Students can also use technology to keep up with schoolwork, or even attend class, when they are too sick to physically come to school. It is important for students to understand digital literacy not just in school, but once they graduate school and go into post-secondary studies, or into the workforce. Technology is used in basically every type of job, so building digital literacy skills during school will help students prepare for their jobs and careers. Students understanding digital literacy will help them learn about online safety. In a world where there are many online treats to one’s privacy and data, learning about digital literacy at a young age can help protect them from online security and privacy issues. These are all reasons why it is important for educators to teach digital literacy in schools. It will keep students engaged in class, teach them skills that they will take further into their lives, and give them the skills to help them keep up with further technological advances.