Friday, September 11, 2009

Defining Digital Literacy

Digital literacy can be defined as communication through modern technology. This communication includes the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate and create information using digital technology. The use of digital literacy has become a powerful source not only in the field of education but also in the workforce and society. Digital literacy has created a plentiful flow of accessible resources online to bolster the work of students, teachers, researches, writers and investors.

Although one may believe the term digital literacy came into use as the computer era initiated it was actually well before then. When the digital age sprouted, digital literacy was only known as the ability to deal with hypertextual information. As the variety of media formats increased the definition of digital literacy became much broader. It became more about understanding the skills necessary to communicate information and knowledge effectively; hence literate in the digital field.

1 comment:

  1. I hadn't thought about the history of digital literacy at all until I read your definition, and found it interesting. When most people think of digital literacy, they think of computers automatically, but you make a good point in saying that the digital era started before computers. It's interesting to look at how the digital age has evolved and to predict where it is going.

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