Digital Literacy

CC Technology (2012) [Video file] Retrieved from 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinshine

/6969804185/in/photolist-bBU4XF-efoWfy-

Digital literacy can be defined as the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, and share information effectively; an essential skill for engagement and citizenship in the 21^st century (Education World, 2016). Students are constantly bombarded with confusing media advertisements, Instagram and Twitter posts, Facebook and Pinterest sharing pages and other multimedia digital platforms. We must accept our roles as partial consumers of the media, but change the narrative in which we receive and interpret this information; we can no longer be passive and feeble but critical and informed.

According to the Ministry of education, technology can be a true asset as it has the capability of contributing positively to local and global communities by connecting otherwise isolated groups (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2005). The vast wealth of knowledge that is available to our students is truly extraordinary, and this open accessibility of information can make learning more meaningful and engaging. There is no longer an option to ignore digital expansion, but rather educators must learn to embrace it and utilize it to the best of his/her abilities. Keeping in mind the ministry’s criteria for a good digital citizen, we must teach our students how to identify credible sources, respect the intellectual property of others, and use effective strategies for information searches (including keywords, narrowing search perimeters, etc.) (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2005). Alongside these strategies, Education World has provided a comprehensive list of digital literacy resources for teachers that can be used in a variety of educational settings with many age groups. 

CC iPad Dream2 (2010) [Video file] Retrieved from 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lancesh/5066618648/

in/photolist-8HHKcW

Reflecting on my own experiences, I was asked to put together an educational video that I would show to my classmates on a topic of my choosing, and I found this process incredibly rewarding. For students who do not excel in writing, recording sound clips can be an effective alternative for displaying information. One of my most memorable placements was in a kindergarten classroom; I was amazed at the level of skill and digital aptitude that these students displayed. They were asked to create a video on Pete The Cat where the students would count the buttons on his jacket, describe the shoes he was wearing, and where he was planning on going. The students were excited to share their stories with the class, and took pride in the videos they had created. This goes to show how incredibly versatile technology can be, and when employed appropriately can spark new learning, engagement and creativity.

Despite the obvious ‘pro’s’ of technology in the classroom, there are also a few drawbacks to consider when creating lesson plans. It can be a distraction for the children, so you must create a structure and culture of respect when working with digital aids. Secondly, not all students will have access to these digital sources at home, or you make work in a school that does not have iPads, camera’s, or smartboards in their classrooms. To combat this, teachthought provides a wonderful list of digital resources for those who are looking to implement technology into their classroom free of charge.

Ultimately, we need the full range of skills we associate with media and digital literacy in order to take full advantage of the rights we hold as consumers, online community members, and citizens. Technology also has a strong influence on communication, and allows experimentation in pedagogy and assessment; for example, instead of grading a paper you may choose to grade a documentary produced by a student. Becoming digitally literate is an absolute necessity in the 21^st century, and as educators it is our responsibility to prepare them for this task.

References

Acedo, M. (2013, December). 25 teaching tools for the digital classroom. In Teachthought: We GrowTeachers. Retrieved March 31, 2016.

CC Technology (2012) [Video file] Retrieved from

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinshine/6969804185/in/photolist-bBU4XF-efoWfy-

CC iPad Dream2 (2010) [Video file] Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/lancesh/5066618648/in/photolist-8HHKcW

Granata, K. (2016). Ten Digital Literacy Resources for Teachers. In Education World. Retrieved March31, 2016.

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2005). The Ontario curriculum grades 1-8: Health and physical

education.