3CL Collaborates in Digital Literacy MOOC for Educators

The Digital Literacy Lab for Educators (DLLE) is a collaborative project between the Commonwealth Centre for Connected Learning, the Commonwealth of Learning and Dilectae, an education consultancy based in the UK. DLLE is being developed as a five-module MOOC to train not only educators in the secondary and tertiary sectors in digital literacy skills, but also all those interested in new approaches to education.

DLLE sets itself apart from other resources in the digital literacy space by connecting the dots between critical thinking and literacy in the digital context. It offers an essential course of personal and professional development for contemporary educators, whatever their instructional context.

Why is DLLE needed now?

Digital platforms now provide a personal and professional lifeline. For educators across the globe, the worldwide web and the ecosystem that has developed around it is now the only way education can continue as ‘normal’. For educators in some jurisdictions, the online world is just starting to flicker on the instructional radar.

The extent to which we can all thrive in 21st century society is predicated on how well we exercise responsible ‘netizenship’. Our delivery of education fit for purpose derives from how well we utilise new technologies to foster netizenship in the people we seek to empower. For student and teacher alike, it is more essential than ever to have the requisite digital literacy skills to participate meaningfully and responsibly in the online world. The uncertain future facing the education sector triggered by the Covid-19 crisis will make the need for widespread digital literacy even greater.

What ‘content’ will the MOOC cover?

The MOOC builds the foundations of lifelong netizenship and helps educators develop the critical thinking skills to navigate the online world independently. DLLE equips participants to reach reasoned and informed judgements on newly-encountered, online ideas and information. It champions the sharing of experiences and our differing education perspectives from around the globe and, in turn, analytical engagement with how we create and consume content in an online setting. The video below offers an introduction to the content and themes explored in the MOOC.

As a ‘lab’ environment, the MOOC project offers a safe and supportive space for educators to experiment with their ideas, exploring how online tools can create context-appropriate resources to develop netizenship and digital literacy skills in their students.