Digital literacy is the understanding and effective use of digital technology throughout one’s daily life. As implied by this definition, the first step to digital literacy is to understand digital technology. One should know how to turn on the computer, send an email, and even create a PowerPoint presentation. However, digital technology is not solely limited to the personal computer, as digital technology has many mobile applications. As an example, one should know how to send email, send text messages, and take pictures with a cell phone. One should also know how Bluetooth and Wi-Fi apply to mobile devices such as cell phones. Finally, one should have a basic understanding of how social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter apply to both mobile and non-mobile computing. As it is impossible to encompass every inch of digital technology, having a solid conceptual understanding of all or most of the above can be considered having some degree of digital literacy.
While understanding all of these things is important, one should be able to utilize these tools effectively. Digital literacy should not be confused with computer literacy. Yes, it is true that someone who is extremely computer-literate can do all sorts of fancy things with a computer. But someone who is computer-literate may not necessarily be considered digitally literate. For example, today getting somebody’s phone number can be brought to the “digital level.” One could transfer his or her contact information via Bluetooth. But, the process of sending a contact card via Bluetooth is far to lengthy for doing something as simple as getting a single person’s phone number. The better solution would be to just speak the phone number aloud while the other person types it into his or her phone. In short, digital literacy is not only understanding how to use technology, but it is also knowing how to best employ it to suit the needs of the given situation effectively.
I think that this defintion does a good job of explaining the 2 main parts of digital literacy. It shows that digital literacy is more than just knowing how to use one digital object and it very clearly demonstrates that both an understanding of digital devices as well as the ability to use them are required to be considered digitally literate. It is very important to know how to use more than just one piece of technology and it is imparitave to understand the tools that we use and how they function as well as how to use them to achieve one's desired purpose. This definition is very strong in communicating the meaning of digital literacy.
ReplyDeleteI think Meghan's comparison and contrasting of digital literacy versus computer literacy was helpful in exhibiting that digital literacy is not the same as computer literacy. Digital literacy encompasses a broad spectrum of various technological skills, one of which is the computer. Only possessing computer literacy would not properly equip a person today to compete in the modern world for high-tech jobs or even to complete demanding tasks efficiently. It is important to remember that you must be somewhat computer literate to be considered digitally literate, but not vice versa.
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