Digital Literacy
What is digital literacy?
Digital literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, utilise, share and create content using information and communications technologies.
Digital literacy includes the ability to use communication effectively through reading and writing online or using technology such as computers, smartphones and tablets, but it is also a lot more than that. Being literate in digital skills also requires users to be knowledgeable in e-safety as well as understanding and respecting cultural and social differences.
With the evolving range of social media, digital literacy skills also include functional skills such as uploading content to a streaming service like YouTube or sharing content on applications like TikTok or Instagram.
Why is digital literacy important?
In the connected online world we live in today, there are some essential digital literacy skills that we need to achieve our goals and live our day-to-day lives.
Digital literacy skills enable us to:
complete a range of tasks for school such as research projects, essays, presentations and videos
explore the online world safely and keep our personal information safe
understand that every post to social media leaves behind a digital footprint. By developing our digital literacy skills, we will learn how to leave good footprints which build a positive online reputation
provide us with another platform to express our thoughts and feelings safely to benefit our well-being. For example, through text, email or even a blog (with care to use the best privacy settings)
In the connected, online world we live in today, there are some essential digital literacy skills that we need to achieve our goals and live our day-to-day lives.
Communication and etiquette (netiquette)
Being able to use online systems to communicate with other people
Expression
Using online resources to express new ideas
Innovation
Finding inspiration for new ideas online
Creative
Sharing new, creative ideas online with others on the internet
Collaboration
Doing projects with other people online
Health and Wellbeing
Learning about health and wellbeing online
Manage online identity and online safety
Being mindful of how much information about yourself is online
How can I improve my digital literacy skills?
Digital literacy skills are becoming more and more important in our everyday lives, as well as in school and workplaces. Here are some useful tips on how to improve your digital literacy skills further:
Read Blogs. Whatever you'd like to learn more about and whatever level you are at, there will be a blog out there for you. Blogs normally take between one and fifteen minutes to read so they will give you a bite-sized hit of knowledge and by reading recently published blogs, you will be getting the most up to date information that is not always possible from a book.
Watch YouTube. There are YouTube videos for everything, so the next time you aren't sure how to do something, try searching for it on YouTube.
The best way to learn is normally to simply get stuck in. Take a hobby or something your are passionate about and start your own digital project - set up a social media account, start a blog, make a video, record a podcast or build a website. Use them, test them and make mistakes.
You can always ask a teacher if you have a question. Most teachers will be able to help you with questions about Google Suite but you may want to ask an ICT teacher for more advanced questions.
Make yourself familiar with the ICT Acceptable Use Policy in school to ensure that you stay safe online as well as keeping others safe
Use online games to improve your digital literacy. For example ,https://www.typing.com/ is a great website that improves typing skills, improving digital literacy.
Using social media. Social media is growing more popular, with more people than ever using social media platforms like TikTok. Using these platforms will help improve digital literacy.
Which jobs require digital literacy?
More and more jobs now require digital literacy skills. By developing your digital literacy skills, you are making yourself more employable. Progress in technology means most roles now require staff to be able to utilise email or virtual meetings when communicating or update business websites or social media accounts.
Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care
Remote irrigation and heating systems used to grow foods, transport flowers/food between countries - inventories, schedules, costings, accounts
Art, Media and Publishing
Online newspapers and magazines, virtual art exhibitions is open to attendees from around the world
Business, Administration and Law
Making use of shared cloud facilities for collaborative working such as SharePoint and Shared Google Drive
Construction and Planning
Making digital plans for construction sites, and learning to use and interpret them digitally.
Education and Training
Using information technology packages to produce school resources, lesson planning, recording attendance, communicating with parents and carers
Health, Public Services and Care
Arranging patient care, updating records
Information Technology
Creating websites, apps, automation processes
Manufacturing and Production
Using online applications to make goods and produce new ideas to be manufactured.
Sales, Hospitality and Services
Using online booking systems for appointments and reservations, transacting sales, ordering stock
Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Gathering data through online research, and inputting this data into online systems to show/further aid research
Transportation and Warehousing
Using online systems to show where something is being warehoused and using online maps to navigate transport and to find the quickest route.
Further information
If you would like to find out more about your career options and growth sectors in Aberdeen and Scotland, click here: https://abzworks.co.uk/career-options/
Use the links below to find out more about which careers might be right for you:
North East Scotland College (NESCol)
Robert Gordon University (RGU)