LESSON 7 IL | MIDTERM

• Digital literacy


  Having the skills to effectively use technology, and the knowledge and skills to do so safely and responsibly
• What digital refers to

  • Computers and the internet
  • Technological objects and programs such as cellphones, smart home systems, check-in kiosks at airports and more
• Literacy refers to the ability to use technology—and to use it well
• Examples of using digital literacy in everyday life

  • Communication (cell phones, email, texting, online chat, video/conference calls, social media)
  • Home management (alarm clocks, smart home devices, home security systems)
  • Shopping (online ordering, mobile shopping/delivery apps, real-time shopping updates and tracking)
  • News/education (online news, digital learning programs, online searches, webinars, video streaming, digital portfolios, educational games/apps)
  • Healthcare (health/exercise tracking apps, virtual doctor visits, digital medical records, online/by-phone bill pay, online prescription refills)
  • Entertainment (video streaming, digital books/audiobooks, podcasts, photo management, photo/video editing, smart TVs)
  • Finance (banking, portfolio management, virtual payment methods)
  • Professional (job searching, work functions, communication, CRM/CMS, storing and retrieving records, time tracking/management software, task management software, accounting/tax preparation)
• Why digital literacy is important

  • It provides career readiness
  • It is crucial to education and socialization
  • It is becoming more ingrained in day-to-day actions from smart home systems and security, banking, shopping, driving and utilizing vehicle features and more
• Digital literacy is now seen as an integral life skill, not just a skill for career readiness
• Reasons students should learn digital literacy skills

  • Support educational progress
  • Increase online safety
  • Understand digital responsibility
  • Improve social opportunities
  • Improve digital equity
  • Support lifelong skills
• Support educational progress


  Students with digital literacy skills will be more comfortable and confident in learning platforms, while those without may have their progress stymied
• Increase online safety


  Digital literacy empowers students with knowledge, tools, processes and resources to help protect their safety and privacy online
• Understand digital responsibility


  Digital literacy helps students master their ability to understand and effectively navigate challenges related to copyright, plagiarism, cyberbullying, vetting information, and interacting responsibly online
• Improve social opportunities


  Digital literacy allows students to connect with others online while protecting their information and safety
• Improve digital equity


  Making digital literacy a priority in K-12 education can help improve digital literacy among underrepresented groups
• Support lifelong skills


  Learning basic digital concepts can provide transferable knowledge that can be applied to new and emerging technologies
• Digital literacy is essential to almost any person in the digital era
• Benefits of digital literacy

  • It can help you find jobs, research options, communicate with friends and family, and understand health and well-being issues
  • It enables you to figure out which online sources are accurate and reliable
  • It helps protect you from potentially dangerous websites and cyber/digital threats
• Tips for getting started with digital literacy

  1. Become aware of the skills you need and figure out how to improve them

  2. Break down digital literacy into smaller, more manageable chunks

  3. Learn about credible online resources and cybersecurity

  4. Find people who are good at these skills and willing to help you learn

  5. Make time for online learning through classes, discussion boards, or articles
• Digital literacy is about more than just using computers
• What digital literacy involves

  • Using technology to search for and create content, solve problems and innovate
  • Connecting and communicating effectively online, learning, collaborating with peers, and discovering and sharing new information
  • Recognising risk, staying safe online, protecting physical and emotional wellbeing, and practising positive online behaviours
• Much of the digital content our learners will need to navigate is in English
• The internet offers unlimited opportunities for English language development
• Digital literacy skills can be especially challenging in a foreign or second language
• Teachers can help learners by explicitly including Digital Literacy development in English language lessons
• Using a computer every day doesn't automatically develop our Digital Literacy skills
• Learners need to develop a range of skills to participate successfully in an increasingly digital world
• Example of integrating technology into a topic-based English lesson on travel

  1. Use online resources like Google Earth, Google Street View, museum podcasts or YouTube audio tours, and blogging platforms for listening and writing tasks

  2. Have students take a guided tour, conduct a listening task in class, and write about their experience on a blog to share with peers and teacher
• Using blog posts for sharing and interacting online


  1. Choose a free blogging platform and introduce it to learners

  2. Discuss and agree on "netiquette" guidelines for posting and commenting

  3. Have learners post written assignments as blog posts and encourage peer feedback in the comments