Research Essay

Looking back at my research paper on digital and technological literacy, I outlined a few areas that show the most room for improvement regarding clarity of my thesis and distinctions between the two literacies. Although the original draft contained some great examples and research, such as how CAD revolutionized the field of engineering, my arguments were not very deep and didn't flow well. To this end, I reworked my paper to further clarify digital and technological literacy and their very different roles: digital literacy as critical engagement with online information and digital spaces; technological literacy as tool-based expertise necessary in the technical disciplines such as engineering.

The introduction and conclusion of my first draft were bland, making the paper fall flat. I revised to a specific thesis that highlights how digital literacy prepares one for global citizenship, while technological literacy equips one for vocation-specific professions. I worked at reordering my body paragraphs to help tie together how the two literacies complement one another in lifelong learning and career flexibility.

I particularly enjoyed analyzing how CAD revolutionized engineering, illustrating the practical applications of technological literacy. However, I struggled to fully integrate digital literacy into this discussion. To address this gap, I revisited sources like Yanzi et al., which connect digital literacy to global citizenship and critical AI engagement, enabling me to explore how these skills empower ethical participation in interconnected global communities.

If I were to revise further, I would make an extended discussion on global citizenship, highlighting how digital literacy begets critical thinking and cross-cultural collaboration. The process itself has been a learning curve that helped me narrow down and synthesize ideas into one coherent argument and, finally, to drive home the importance of these literacies in shaping personal and professional growth.