Digital Literacy as an essential 21st C Skill
Is digital literacy an essential 21st-Century skill?
Although digital skills are critical to function productively in the workplace, the notion of digital literacy expands far beyond the world of business. It is no longer enough to be digitally literate in a technical scene when basic social and metacognitive skills are missing. As a result, the label and definition of ‘What it means to be digitally literate?’ has come into question, shifting the narrative to include information literacy. Being information literate is the ability to create ethical and productive meanings from evaluating, synthesizing, and analyzing the abundance of online information. By obtaining this skill, new views are constructed and critical questions such as, ‘How do we know truth from fiction?’ and ‘How do we know what we’re being fed is reality?’, are asked, which in return makes an individual more knowledgable.
About the Webinar
In the first webinar of the ‘Digital Literacy Lab for Educators’ MOOC, Professor Garry Falloon, Director of International Engagement and Professor of STEM Education and Digital Learning at Macquarie University, discusses:
- How digital literacy is a 21st-century competence that consists of many different aspects.
- How the neoliberal discourse should be challenged.
- How the traditional ‘knowledge vs skills’ debate should transform into ‘information vs knowledge.’
- How cultural differences need to be taken into account when describing online integrity.
- How digital literacy can be embedded in all learning environments.
Key takeaways
- Technology is not a knowledge device, rather it’s an information device that helps a user be informed about something.
- Having digital access is different than knowing what to do with powerful devices.
- Becoming digital literate can only happen if there is access to devices that support it.
- Critical thinking is an essential component of digital and information literacy.
- Parents and teachers play a crucial role in educating young learners about the deceptive uses of digital tools.
Watch the Video
Watch Professor Garry Falloon and Dr. Emma Pauncefort, founder of Dilectae, discuss the skill that makes individuals responsible netizens in the webinar ‘Digital Literacy as the Essential 21st C Skill.’
Access the MOOC
The Digital Literacy Lab for Educators (DLLE) is sets itself apart from other resources in the digital literacy space by connecting the dots between critical thinking and literacy, and the digital world. To access the course content, click here.
