Digital Literacy

What is Digital Literacy?

Digital literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share and create content using information technologies and the internet. It encompasses your use of everything from smart phones to iPads and tablets to desktops and ChromeBooks and everything that you do with them. In today's day and age, we write papers, create multimedia presentations and post information about ourselves and others online as part of their day-to-day life. Each of these activities require an understanding and application of digital literacy. Yes, it's important to know how to use these tools, but it's even more importan to know how to do them safely, effectively and legally. That's where digital literacy comes in.

An understanding of digital literacy is key to education in the 21st Century, as technology is changing faster than ever. Keeping up with advances that allow us to search online databases, text friends, stream media comes with certain challenges. It is important but often challenging to assure an understanding of appropriate behavior in these digital contexts and to adhere to concepts of academic integrity, copyright and privacy when things change so quickly. As educators, it is crucial to share with students how to be safe with what they say on the internet, how they use sources and how to navigate safely through the on-line world.

Our library provides training on copyright and research on the internet. Our teachers, within the content of their classes, also provide training to our students to safely and effectively use all the digital tools at their fingertips. Please take a moment to peruse the following resources to access more information on this important topic and lessons that you might use in your classrooms. I am always happy to work with teachers to co-create a lesson or teach a class on digital literacy and/or digital citizenship. These provide the foundation for all we do in the digital world.


Resources for Instruction of Digital Literacy

Resources for Instruction on Digital Literacy:

  • DigitalLiteracy.gov: On this site, teachers can find resources including lesson plans, activities, games, videos, tutorials, and more.

  1. Professor Garfield: The Professor Garfield Foundation's website offers students fun activities and games to enhance their digital literacy. The site also offers a teachers resource center, instructional materials, printables, links, digital stories, and more.

  2. Lesson Plan Booster: Digital Literacy and Online Ethics: In this article on Education World, teachers have access to a list of lesson plans they can use to teach their students about digital literacy, including digital etiquette, essay questions, and more.

  3. ThinkB4u: ThinkB4u is a website that partners with Common Sense Media, ConnectSafely, National Consumers League, and more. ThinkB4u provides teachers with videos, resources, and other sources for the classroom.

  4. TheNewsLiteracyProject.org: On this website, students work with professional journalists who instruct them how to sort fact from fiction in through videos, workshops, classroom programs, and resources for teachers.

  5. Common Sense Media: With Common Sense Media, teachers can share videos, activities, printables, and other resources for teaching digital literacy.

  6. Tweeting History: A Digital Literacy Lesson: In this lesson plan provided by Education World, students will be able to use historical knowledge and digital literacy skills to tweet clues and guess the historical figure, period or event.

  7. November Learning: This site offers educators resources including articles, podcasts, videos, quizzes, tutorials, and more for teaching digital literacy.

  8. Web 20.14: With Discovery Education's Web 20.14, teachers can have access to free apps, games, and other school-friendly tools.

  9. Digital Literacy Resources: Cornell University provides teachers with information regarding privacy and the Internet, copyright resources, and a research guide for students.

This list compiled by Kassondra Granata, Education World Contributor.http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/ten-digital-literacy-resources-teachers.shtml.


Resources for Teaching Digital Citizenship:

Reposted from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-citizenship-resources-matt-davis

  • Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum From iKeepSafe and Google: Co-produced by iKeepSafe and Google, this digital-literacy curriculum for middle school and high school students provides three lessons to help kids find reliable information online, manage their reputations, and recognize scams. Additionally, check out iKeepSafe's educator resourcesfor professional-development modules for teachers and a variety of activities to use with students.

  • Resources for Teaching Digital Literacy From Digizen: Digizen is a repository of useful and engaging resources to teach students of all ages about becoming upstanding digital citizens. Produced by the U.K.-based child safety nonprofit ChildNet International, Digizen features videos, lesson plans, and games, and there are different sections for parents, students, and teachers.