Giving Compass' Take:
- Digital literacy should become a focal point of education systems so that digital platforms can help usher in more opportunities for youth to develop critical thinking skills with evolving technology.
- How can donors help schools and educators gain access to necessary tools and platforms for better digital literacy learning? How will digital literacy change the education landscape?
- Read more about how the shift to online learning sheds light on the digital divide.
What is Giving Compass?
We connect donors to learning resources and ways to support community-led solutions. Learn more about us.
There's a palpable digital divide in the United States. A report from the Pew Research Center found that there are currently two camps when it comes to digital competency. According to the study, 52% of U.S. adults are relatively hesitant when using digital tools to access information.
These findings signal both a substantial problem and a significant opportunity: As more people are prepared to use technology productively upon entering adulthood, they will be better equipped to solve problems, think critically and enter new virtual spaces. When educators and school librarians highlight the significance of digital literacy in education for students of all ages, they build a new foundation for a generation of learners.
School librarians and teachers have found meaningful ways to introduce digital literacy in education. When students are better equipped to engage with and utilize digital tools, teachers can make the learning process more interactive and effective.
This sentiment has been extensively explored in the academic world. For example, a 2018 scholarly article in the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy explored how digital literacy platforms prepare both students and teachers for an effective learning process. Centrally, the researchers of the article honed in on a 42-hour immersive experience that took place at the University of Rhode Island's Summer Institute in Digital Literacy. The program is structured to prepare teachers, educators, curriculum designers and college faculty to facilitate digital literacy in digital media spaces.
The writers stated, "Digital media platforms, texts, and technologies enable pedagogical practices that put learners and teachers at the center of an increasingly networked social world." As more libraries transition to technologically centered digital media centers, students will be able to engage with "diverse perspectives, deliberative dialogue, and collaborative inquiry."
Read the full article about digital literacy from the University of West Alabama Online at Education Dive.