Technology and the online world have become an important part of our everyday life. We rely upon different information and communication devices both at work and at home. Digital literacy has been defined by The American Library Association as “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills” (Heitin, 2016, par 4). By this definition, digital literacy includes everything from navigating social media, to reading online articles to sending an email. Seung-Hyun Lee (2014) explains that digital literacy also “represents a person’s knowledge of and skills in using ICTs [information and communication technologies] and the ability to perform a variety of complex tasks using them effectively and efficiently in digital environments” (par. 1). As exemplified by these insights, throughout the past few years technology has continued to become a pervasive part of our lives and a source of vast information.
Given its essential part in everyday activities, digital literacy has also become crucial in educational settings. Students and teachers often require these devices and technologies for communication, facilitating learning and sharing resources (Lee, 2014). Due to its constant growth, many scholars have looked into the potential benefits these technologies. University of Connecticut professor, Donald Leu, explains that online reading, such as reading a text found on the internet can be beneficial for students and learners. Reading a digital news or web article requires an individual to stop and make decisions when they are navigating through hyperlinks, images, audio clips and videos (Heitin, 2016). These different features ensure an interactive experience in which no two people would experience the article in the same way.
So, for me as an educator there is a lot to unpack with digital literacy and its evolving importance in our classrooms. I know that there is a lot to learn about technology and there are many ways for digital literacy to be of aid to students. It is important for kids to develop a certain level of ‘digital competencies and digital literacy’ because these skills are integrated in every aspect of life and are important for lifelong learning. (Rambousek et al., 2016). We as educators need to take advantage of these resources and expand our knowledges in order to provide our students with the best learning experience possible.
I also believe that safety and privacy are key. For me as an educator this needs to be at the forefront of my concerns. My first responsibility in bringing different technologies into my classroom is to ensure that my students are aware of the dangers of online devices. I want to be able to keep learning and teaching using technology, but I also need to make sure that in doing this I never put myself or my students at risk.
I would also like to state that despite digital literacy’s growing importance, I believe that there is a time and place. There are outdoor learning experiences that cannot be replaced and need to be experienced without the constant distraction of a cellphone or device. Although these online tools and resources are quick and easy to use, I believe that they should be used to enhance classroom and outdoor learning, but to not replace it. As someone who grew up going on hikes, fishing and camping I know that these place-based experiences are important to provide examples and context to the things we learn in our curriculum. Physical geography didn’t make sense for me until I got up in those mountains. It is important to use digital literacy and technology to enhance and engage our learning.
References
Heitin, L. (2016, November 9). Digital Literacy: An Evolving Definition. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/11/09/what-is-digital-literacy.html.
Lee, S.H. (2014). Digital Literacy Education for the Development of Digital Literacy. International Journal of Digital Literacy and Digital Competence, 5(3). http://dx.doi.org.prxy.lib.unbc.ca/10.4018/ijdldc.2014070103.
Rambousek, V., Stipek, J., & Vankova, P. (2016). Contents of Digital Literacy from the Perspective of Teachers and Pupils. Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences, 217, 354-362. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.02.101.
