Digital Literacy

Brooke Macdonald
California State University, Fullerton

Image source: https://openclipart.org/tags/desktop%20computer

 What is Digital Literacy?

-Digital literacy is, “the ability to effectively find, identify, evaluate, and use
information,” from digital sources (CommonSenseMedia.org, 2018).

-It applies to information that comes from online, cell phones and even video
games. Image
Source:http://www.pdsttechnologyineducation.ie/en/
NEWS/Developing-Digital-Literacy-Skills.html
Why Digital Literacy is Important
-Digital literacy helps both us and our students to become, “wise information
consumers” (Shane, 2011).

Important Digital Literacy Skills:

*searching the internet effectively for sources and information

*protecting our own private information when online

*making sure we cite properly & give credit for people’s work

*finding accurate & credible information to further our knowledge

(CommonSenseMedia.org, 2018; Shane, 2011) Image Source:
https://www.emaze.com/@AWF
ZWCTO/Digital-Literacy
Types of Digital Literacy
Information Literacy

- Information literacy is developed over time.

- It helps us to look at information from the web in order to evaluate it and
determine how accurate and credible it is.
- It revolves around the search for information and sources.

(Green, 2001; Shane, 2011)

Image Source:
https://gallery.yopriceville.com/Free-
Clipart-Pictures/Hi-Tech-
PNG/Laptop_Transparent_PNG_Clip_Art
_Image-549504405
Media Literacy
“Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act
using all forms of communication. Media literacy means anything from
interpreting emojis to understanding underlying messages in online
advertisements to producing viral video content,” (National Association for Media
Literacy Education, 2018).

-Media literacy revolves around media content and outlets.

Image Source:
(Lynch, 2017) https://twitter.com/edut
opia/status/942687932
720304128
ICT Literacy- Information & Communication Technology

“The ability to use digital technology, communication tools, and/ or

networks appropriately to solve information problems in order to
function in an information society” (ETS, 2003).

-ICT literacy is the gateway to both media and information literacy.

Image Source:
https://clipartxtras.com/categories/vi
(ETS, 2003; ICT Literacy, 2007) ew/b95b6dd70ac9383b3b2f8bbfbf7
74b3e2aedbbe7/ict-teacher-
Digital Literacy Lesson Ideas
Website Evaluation Scavenger Hunt
*break students into small groups

*send them off to examine three websites for credibility (previously selected
websites)

*give students a checklist to use when examining websites (ie. the author, the
purpose behind the website, how easy it is to navigate through the website)

*students can present out their findings to the class

Image Source:
http://www.clipartpanda.com/clipart_
images/clip-art-scavenger-hunt-
63700011
 BrainPop Lesson Resources
*BrainPop video library on Digital Citizenship

Topics Include: Media Literacy, Information Privacy, Internet Search, Online Safety, Social Media &
Online Sources

-post-video quiz questions (answer whole group or in small groups)

-online activities & worksheets to go with each video

Image source:
https://sites.google.com/a/my.m
aryvillecollege.edu/ashley-s-
amazing-world-of-educational-
technology/brainpop
References
Common Sense Media. (2018). What is digital literacy? Retrieved from

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/news-and-media-literacy/what-is-digital-literacy

ETS. (2003) Succeeding in the 21st century. Retrieved from

https://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/Information_and_Communication_Technology_Literacy/ICTwhitepaperfinal.p
df

Green, T. (2001). Teaching students to critically evaluate web pages. Clearing House, 32- 34.

ICT Literacy. (2007). What does it mean to be literate in a technology-driven world? Retrieved from

http://teachingcommons.cdl.edu/ictliteracy/

Lynch, M. (2017). What is media literacy and why does it matter? Retrieved from

https://www.theedadvocate.org/media-literacy-matter/

Shane, J. (2011). What is information literacy? Retrieved from https://www.philau.edu/infolit/what_students.htm