Before delving into what digital literacy means to me in an educative setting, I’ll need to define the term. Although there will most likely be a myriad of descriptions from other teacher candidates, digital literacy “encompasses 21st century skills related to the effective and appropriate use of technology” (“What is Digital Literacy” 2020, para. 3). Considering this is a very broad definition, the American Library Association defines digital literacy as “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills” (“What is Digital Literacy” 2020, para. 4). This blog topic is extremely appropriate and relevant amidst the COVID-19 pandemic for all learners. Digital literacy allows us to collaborate, create and share content on a multitude of platforms, such as; zoom, blackboard collaborate, open-ed, twitter and more. Other specific tasks include creating power point presentations, videos, embedding hyperlinks, graphing, navigating social media as well as conducting online research. In an ever-changing society with new technological advancements daily, it is beneficial to maintain and adapt one’s digital literacy skillset. The youngest generation will have the most ease navigating different digital literacy platforms because it is so readily available to them. It is my job as an educator to make sure they navigate these platforms safely.

Navigating platforms involving digital literacy can be both dangerous and tricky. It is important for educators, librarians, principals and other staff members of a school district to understand their policies and how to safely incorporate digital mediums into the classroom. It is of no surprise that most of today’s students turn to the internet as their key source of information (“What is Digital Literacy” 2020). As a post-secondary student, I have heavily relied on the internet as my source of information. I am aware of the dangers the internet presents; however, young children are vulnerable to many predators online. Digital literacy presents risks, such as inappropriate content, online predators and cyberbullying (“Internet Safety” 2018). Children can be easily manipulated online to share personal information, or worse, be exposed to malicious sexual content (“Internet Safety” 2018). It is extremely important that parents, guardians and educators be aware of what children can see, hear, who they can meet and what they can share about themselves with others online (“Internet Safety” 2018). It is my role to ensure my students recognize the risks associated with using digital platforms and understand appropriate use of these platforms. I never want to jeopardize the safety of myself or my students in online learning.

It is important to recognize that digital literacy is not all that bad. My learning has been both challenged and enhanced when exploring digital platforms as methods of creation and delivery. Within the past few weeks, I have figured out how to navigate Slack, Zoom, Twitter and Google Docs. Although using these sources has been overwhelming, it does not replace in person or place based learning activities. I strongly believe digital literacy contains important skillsets children need to be exposed too; however, it is not meant to be the only education medium. All students learn and approach things differently, and I’ll need to honour that as their teacher. Digital literacy will only be used to enhance their learning as well as my own. It is important to take advantage of different online tools and create new learning experiences to expand our knowledge. The digital world offers a wealth of information for students to digest. Digital literacy has the ability to create more “nuanced and complex understanding of the ‘uses of literacy’ in digital contexts” (McDougall et al., 2017, p. 263). This is a significant point for educators because they are helping create lifelong learners who are ready to enter a society that is constantly changing and adapting. Digital literacy is an important medium to incorporate and work with while respecting the dangerous components. I plan to learn more about incorporating digital literacy in my classrooms and using it to enhance the learning and understanding of my students. There are no questions that cannot be answered with all the resources available online!

References

Internet Safety for Parents. (2018 April). Kids Health from Nemours. Retrieved September 22, 2020, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/net-safety.html

McDougall J., Readman, M., & Wilkinson, P. (2018). The uses of Digital Literacy. Learning, Media and Technology, 43(3), 263-279. https://doi-org.prxy.lib.unbc. ca/10.1080/17439884.2018.1462206

What is Digital Literacy and why does it Matter. (2020). Renaissance. Retrieved September 22, 2020, from https://www.renaissance.com/2019/02/08/blog-digital-literacy-why-does-it-matter/