Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is an important aspect of incorporating technology into the classroom and is one that cannot be taught in one lesson or even over the course of one week. Digital literacy is an ongoing learning experience that grows as students grow into the world of technology and is only accomplished when students can effectively utilize technology in a meaningful and purposeful way. Some of the main goals of becoming digitally literate are: learning to use technology responsibly and correctly, learning how to communicate information digitally, and learning how to create digital content. The internet is a great tool that is used in classrooms everywhere, but we must teach students exactly how to utilize it. The first skill students need is to be able to find information. This would include them being able to search for keywords properly, determine which sites are credible, and learn how to navigate through links, comments, and videos online. We must also teach students how to create their own digital content. Students are now expected to complete many assignments digitally, some are even enrolled in online courses as early as middle school. As teachers, we must teach students what kind of content is appropriate to create in the classroom setting as well as how to safely share the content that they have created online. Students must also learn about plagiarism, their personal digital footprint, and privacy settings when it comes to creating and sharing information. It is very true that having students online has its pros and cons. Some of the pros are that students can easily collaborate and search for a wide range of information easily, but the internet can be dangerous and makes students open to cyberbullying and scams.

I have learned that digital literacy encompasses much more than I ever imagined. Teaching students how to use technology effectively and responsibility is one of the most important aspects of 21st century teaching and will only become more advanced as technology advances. The video below highlights what it means to teach digital literacy in today’s classroom, what it actually looks like, how it impacts students, and even gives suggestions for digital literacy activities for students.