Digital Literacy

The following definition of literacy — which is highly focused on digital literacy — is quoted from the National Council of Teachers of English website:

decorative imageLiteracy has always been a collection of cultural and communicative practices shared among members of particular groups. As society and technology change, so does literacy. Because technology has increased the intensity and complexity of literate environments, the 21st century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies, many literacies. These literacies are multiple, dynamic, and malleable. As in the past, they are inextricably linked with particular histories, life possibilities, and social trajectories of individuals and groups. Active, successful participants in this 21st century global society must be able to:

  • Develop proficiency and fluency with the tools of technology;
  • Build intentional cross-cultural connections and relationships with others so to pose and solve problems collaboratively and strengthen independent thought;
  • Design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of purposes;
  • Manage, analyze, and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information;
  • Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multimedia texts;
  • Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by these complex environments.”

As you can see from this definition, digital literacy refers not only to your ability to manage digital tools, but also to your ability to use them with others, and to make decisions about website quality, whether or not to use certain tools, and how to use those tools with integrity.

Initial Learning Activity – Option 1

Assess your digital literacy using the following assessment tool:

  • Northstar Digital Literacy —  Developed by the Minnesota Literacy Council, this is a very comprehensive tool to assess basic digital skills in a number of areas: Essential Computer Skills, Essential Software Skills, Using Technology in Daily Life.  In many cases, this assessment actually asks you to use the tools as part of the assessment.

Note that other self-assessments exist. You may want to access any of these, as they all have a slightly different focus:

After you complete the Northstar assessment (and any others you choose to pursue), write notes with an assessment of the results and plans for developing your digital skills.  Create one of the following to submit:

  • an audio file with your discussion of results
  • a PowerPoint
  • a narrated PowerPoint or series of images done with a free tool such as VoiceThread
  • a brief YouTube video (save it privately and share just with your mentor)
  • a web page or blog post
  • a Google Doc
  • an assessment using any other digital tool of your choice, as long as it uses a technology readily accessible to all users

initial learning activity – option 2

Evaluate three different websites devoted to public speaking:

In your evaluation, make sure to take notes on the following points:

  • Who is the intended audience for each website?
  • What is the level of expertise the website assumes for its audience?
  • What is the purpose of each website?
  • How digitally sophisticated is each website?
  • What is the quality of information in each website?  Make sure to specify the characteristics you are using to determine quality.
  • What, in your estimation, could have been added to each website in order to better address the intended audience and purpose?
  • Any other insights that contribute to your analysis.

Then, choose one of the websites and find at least 3 digital resources that would contribute to the website, based on your analysis.  Explain how and why you would add these to the website.

After you complete your evaluation, create one of the following to submit:

  • an audio file with your discussion of results
  • a PowerPoint
  • a narrated PowerPoint or series of images done with a free tool such as VoiceThread
  • a brief YouTube video (save it privately and share just with your mentor)
  • a web page or blog post
  • a Google Doc
  • an assessment using any other digital tool of your choice, as long as it uses a technology readily accessible to all users

in-depth learning activity

Analyze and discuss the information ethics of “net neutrality.” Depending on the source, “net neutrality” can be variously defined. One definition can be found on NetworkNeutrality: Definition of Net Neutrality, the research project of an undergraduate student at Berkeley. For additional points of view, please read the following short articles. They present somewhat different – and sometimes competing — perspectives on this complex and complicated topic.

Write a reflection (4-5 pages) on the ethics of net neutrality. What are the ethical implications if the net remains neutral? What are the ethical considerations if the net moves towards a more tiered system? How do the concepts of “open,” “shareable,” and “accessible” impact your thoughts? How does net neutrality inform larger questions of education and knowledge sharing? What are the considerations of this sharing and learning in a tiered system? Who or what gets left out? Does it matter? Why or why not?

Submit: essay on the ethics of net neutrality

Related college Learning Goals

Active Learning: Assess and build upon previous learning and experiences to pursue new learning, independently and in collaboration with others.

Social Responsibility: Engage in ethical reasoning, and reflect on issues such as democratic citizenship, diversity, social justice and environmental sustainability, both locally and globally.

Communication: Express and receive ideas effectively, in multiple contexts and through multiple strategies.

Information and Digital Media Literacy: Critically access, evaluate, understand, create and share information using a range of collaborative technologies to advance learning, as well as personal and professional development.

 

For more information, see the College Learning Goals Policy.

  1. Some of the text in this article is very-low contrast. A text-only version of Useful Tools for All Digital Week is available. ↵
  2. Some of the text in this article is very-low contrast. A text only version of Presentation Zen is available. ↵
  3. Some of the text in this article is very-low contrast. A text-only version of Voices for Internet Freedom is available. ↵