• • The ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate, evaluate, use and create information.  ¹ 
   
  •  The ability to understand and use information in multiple formats from a wide range of sources when it is presented via computers.  ² 
   
  •  A person’s ability to perform tasks effectively in a digital environment... Literacy includes the ability to read and interpret media, to reproduce data and images through digital manipulation, and to evaluate and apply new knowledge gained from digital environments.  ³

• Improving Lives Through Digital Literacy
• As we move full steam ahead into 2013, governments and businesses across Asia Pacific are becoming increasingly concerned about the level of digital literacy in their communities. According to Towers Watson’s   ‘Global Talent 2021’  report, the rapidly developing digital economy is increasing the demand for highly skilled technical workers, and digital business skills are seen as most critical to economic growth especially in the Asia Pacific region.
• In 2012, Intel joined with numerous organizations to improve digital literacy across the Asia Pacific. The   Intel Easy Steps Program  , a digital literacy program developed for learners with little or no prior computer experience, has been widely adopted across the region.
• Since being established in 2010, the Intel Easy Steps digital literacy initiative has enriched the lives of more than 1 million people in 20 countries.
• • The highlighted areas captures the corporate collaboration with governments to assist with the education of the community to improve their quality of life.

• Simon Sikuan, whose life was changed through his participation in the Intel Easy Steps program offered at Pangasinan School of Arts & Trades, a TESDA-accredited institution. The resources and mentorship he received throughout each module of the program helped him establish a firm grasp of digital knowledge. The interactive, hands-on methods used by the teachers helped him overcome his fear and learn skills quickly.  

   

    As such, he not only developed computer skills but the course also gave him the opportunity to acquire mentorship skills through his volunteer role as an assistant facilitator in class. Simon utilized his knowledge to become a part-time tutor. He uses the   Intel® Education Help Guide  as a reference to help members of community acquire the computer literacy that they need to live in a digital world

• The Philippines has not only implemented the Easy Steps program with education institutions, but has also innovated, expanding the reach of the program by offering content online through a Filipino   Facebook application  . This application is being translated so it can be launched in other Asia Pacific countries in 2013. In Vietnam, the Easy Steps program has converted the course into a viewer-friendly television show that will air on the national VTC channel, reaching rural communities and other previously isolated groups. 

   

    In India, similar stories of success from digital literacy initiatives can found.   Kali Prasad Samantaraya  a tribal youth from the Manikpur village of Banpur, Odisha, India found limited employment opportunities in his rural town. In 2010, his passion for learning led him to seek a job with eKutir, a social enterprise that works on rural empowerment. In early 2011, Kali Prasad discussed the digital literacy needs of rural communities with the managing director of eKutir. Soon after, he was signed up to a two-day Intel® Easy Steps training program in New Delhi.  

   

    Kali Prasad is now the head of the Odisha digital literacy program for eKutir, “today, I help other people in my area become digitally literate”.
• Improving digital literacy in communities is also critical to developing local commerce, enabling it to keep pace with the world’s ever evolving economy. For example, despite having a good education   Rekha Ravat  struggled to find work. Her story is a testament to the success of Intel’s partnership with the NGO Pratham which is providing young Indians with the skills demanded by the modern workplace, whether that is as an employee of a company or by empowering them to be successful innovators and entrepreneurs.
• Through initiatives like Intel Easy Steps we are delivering digital literacy programs that empower people and build communities by improving employability and increasing economic opportunity.
• Digital literacy continues to be a key focus of Intel’s commitment to bring significant transformation to our communities in the Asia Pacific and around the world.

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• Experts Meet To Develop Global Digital Literacy Initiatives
• "The importance of international, and Public and Private Sector organisations  supporting, funding, and/or implementing digital literacy initiatives is paramount to ECDL Foundation in achieving its mission to enable proficient use of ICT that empowers individuals, organisations and society, and in doing so, raising digital literacy levels for economic development and social cohesion”.

• Community Connectors is informed by One Economy’s US based Digital Connectors Course, which has already trained 5,000 US youth who have engaged technology adoption campaigns that have reached more than 500,000 under-connected residents throughout US. The Digital Connectors curricula feature skills-building training for career development, including am emphasis on business skills for  entrepreneurship.

• A digital citizen is one who knows what is right and wrong, exhibits intelligent technology behavior, and makes good choices when using technology.
• To understand the complexity of digital citizenship and the issues of technology use, abuse, and misuse, Mark Ribble had identified nine elements that together make up digital citizenship,

• The concept of digital citizenship is premised on encouraging and developing learning opportunities for youth to develop their online proficiency, engagement and creativity, rather than focusing exclusively on the ways in which digital media can be used detrimentally. A microscopic focus on the negative aspects of digital communication usage among youth ignores the potential benefits of digital media, and the possibility for youth to engage in socially responsible digital behaviour.
• Digital citizenship also involves “legal literacy,” that is, an understanding of where the law defines the line between joking, teasing, or harmless actions and criminal behaviour.

• Why Digital Citizenship Must Be Taught in Schools
• According to the latest Norton Online Family Report, nearly 62 percent of children worldwide have had a negative experience online — nearly four in ten involving serious situations, i.e. cyberbullying or receiving inappropriate photos from strangers. A whopping 74 percent of kids active on social networks say they’ve found themselves in unpleasant situations alone, while additional surveys reveal that nearly eight in ten have witnessed acts of meanness or cruelty on Facebook, Google+ or other similar services.
• Even technology insiders presently struggle to define rules of online etiquette, social media conduct and personal boundaries, given the speed at which advancements now arrive and online trends shift. That’s problematic for parents, who are expected to lead by example. As ever, the answer lies with education.
• Based on recent surveys, parents, kids and teachers largely agree that the Internet and technology should be better integrated into modern schools, college curriculums and university classrooms. According to the non-profit National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), however, schools are ill-prepared to teach online safety, security and digital citizenship.
• Only by proactively teaching positive computing and digital lifestyle habits can such problems truly be addressed. Discussion can, and must, occur surrounding digital citizenship and online safety starting at the earliest years, and continue into later phases of adolescent and even professional life. Moreover, we need to recognize the pressing importance of keeping these conversations going daily in homes, schools and boardrooms the globe over. Standardized educational solutions and training programs that teach high-tech safety rules and responsible online usage could prove the solution.

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• Definition - What does Digital Identity mean?

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  A digital identity is an online or networked identity adopted or claimed in cyberspace by an individual, organization or electronic device. These users may also project more than one digital identity through multiple communities. In terms of digital identity management, key areas of concern are security and privacy.
• digital identity is linked to one or more digital identifiers, like an email address, URL or domain name. Because identity theft is rampant on the Web, digital identity authentication and validation measures are critical to ensuring Web and network infrastructure security in the public and private sectors.

• The relative merits of the EC and Australian approaches are examined in the context of digital identity, rather than just data privacy which is the usual focus, because of the growing significance of digital identity, especially to an individual’s ability to be recognized and to transact. The set of information required for transactions which invariably consists of full name, date of birth, gender and a piece of identifying information, has specific functions which transform it from mere information. As a set, it enables the system to transact. For this reason this transaction identity is the most important, and the most vulnerable part of digital identity. Yet while it is deserving of most protection, its significance has been largely under-appreciated.

• we might have to re-evaluate our perception of digital identity; what is digital identity? The notion of digital identity is expanding; more and more elements can be included in determining someone’s digital identity. Not only personal information such as ones name and age, but also personal preferences can influence an individual’s digital identity. These personal preferences could for example include taste in food, shopping history or travel history. Establishing an individual’s digital identity can have major benefits for both businesses and consumers; businesses can improve their products and services, realize higher revenues and lower their costs through the insights they gain from digital identities. Consumers on the other hand can benefit from personalized and customized products and services, lower prices and time-saving.
• During the seminar, it became clear that we might have to re-evaluate our perception of digital identity; what is digital identity? The notion of digital identity is expanding; more and more elements can be included in determining someone’s digital identity. Not only personal information such as ones name and age, but also personal preferences can influence an individual’s digital identity. These personal preferences could for example include taste in food, shopping history or travel history. Establishing an individual’s digital identity can have major benefits for both businesses and consumers; businesses can improve their products and services, realize higher revenues and lower their costs through the insights they gain from digital identities. Consumers on the other hand can benefit from personalized and customized products and services, lower prices and time-saving.
• Managing one’s digital identity will become more important if more data is shared with businesses and governments.

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• Digital Identity Development
• No longer seen as being separate from “real life,” an individual’s digital identity is intricately connected to their overall identity. Developing the ability to use digital communication/interaction channels isn’t about the dusty rhetoric of “natives” versus “immigrants.”
• Currently, social media are the dominant set of interactional spheres where digital identities are made manifest. Critical development is taking place and higher education needs to be incorporating proactive digital identity development opportunities. Institutions should be teaching students about the importance of context in online communications, the fluidity of privacy, awareness of nuance, and the power of community-building through social media.

• One of the aspects of digital identity that we are just starting to acknowledge is the evolution of our culture of judging. For example, when an 18 year-old student heads off to college, are we going to fault them for their immature Facebook postings that they posted when they were 12? Digital identity development is a door that swings both ways. Students are learning and growing in tandem with faculty and staff. In the near future, judging someone’s social media postings from their pre-college days may be significantly reduced.

   

  Another aspect of digital identity is access and sharing. Social media sites promote sharing. Good, bad, or ugly, we share a lot of our lives online these days. However, it’s important to note that social media are not the cause of our behavior, they are merely the public conduit. Acknowledging mistakes and dissonance is an important aspect of digital identity. Individual development, after all, takes time.

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• The full definition of Digital Security (self-protection) is: taking necessary precautions to guarantee electronic digital safety. Any digital product can be hacked and stolen, hence the hacker or the theif may and can get personal information of the digital product; comprimising you since amoug the things they can steal is your credit card number, or even your social security number (only in the US). In any society, there are individuals who steal, deface, or disrupt other people. The same is true for the digital community. It is not enough to trust other members in the community for our own safety. In our own homes, we put locks on our doors and fire alarms in our houses to provide some level of protection. The same must be true for the digital security. We need to have virus protection, backups of data, and surge control of our equipment. As responsible citizens, we must protect our information from outside forces that might cause disruption or harm.
• Digital Security is simply about being secure about everthing that is electronic. For example, when you begin to learn about computers and the internet, you are taught to not reveal any personal information, like your full name and contact numbers.

• A security review wouldn’t be complete without a roundup of major data breaches. EBay is the most notable victim: In May, the site announced a devastating data breach that included names, email and home addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and encrypted passwords. Reports put the number of affected users around 145 million.
• A security review wouldn’t be complete without a roundup of major data breaches. EBay is the most notable victim: In May, the site announced a devastating data breach that included names, email and home addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and encrypted passwords. Reports put the number of affected users around 145 million.

  • Digital Security can even affect us when we're not online. The article tells of Ebay, global shopping giants, coming under cyber attack.

• Digital security of both public and private institutions is one of the most important topics worldwide, and thwarting cyber attacks, identifying their sources and taking the right measures and precautions are top priorities for governments and leaders today. In the GCC and the Arab region, as well as in the rest of the world, various sectors of our economies have become linked to the international network and therefore are exposed to various types of breaches, information theft and vandalism.

  • This paragraph speaks of the importance of digital security in regards to public and private institutions.

• No matter how non-tech savvy any given person is, we all live a digital lifestyle now, and it’s important that we keep it safe. Taking the time to explain web security to non-technical people will help the people you love most take advantage of all that new technology has to offer without risking their finances and personal information.

• Data breaches are becoming ever bigger and more common. Last year over 800m records were lost, mainly through such attacks (see chart 1). Among the most prominent recent victims has been Target, whose chief executive, Gregg Steinhafel, stood down from his job in May, a few months after the giant American retailer revealed that online intruders had stolen millions of digital records about its customers, including credit- and debit-card details. Other well-known firms such as Adobe, a tech company, and eBay, an online marketplace, have also been hit.
• America’s president, Barack Obama, said in a White House press release earlier this year that cyberthreats “pose one of the gravest national-security dangers” the country is facing.
• Securing cyberspace is hard because the architecture of the internet was designed to promote connectivity, not security. Its founders focused on getting it to work and did not worry much about threats because the network was affiliated with America’s military. As hackers turned up, layers of security, from antivirus programs to firewalls, were added to try to keep them at bay. Gartner, a research firm, reckons that last year organisations around the globe spent $67 billion on information security.
• In another high-profile sabotage incident, in 2012, a computer virus known as Shamoon wiped the hard drives of tens of thousands of computers at Saudi Aramco, a Saudi Arabian oil and natural-gas giant, and left a picture of a burning American flag on the screens of the stricken devices. The assault is widely thought to have been carried out by Iran.

• An additional reason for getting tech companies to give a higher priority to security is that cyberspace is about to undergo another massive change. Over the next few years billions of new devices, from cars to household appliances and medical equipment, will be fitted with tiny computers that connect them to the web and make them more useful. Dubbed “the internet of things”, this is already making it possible, for example, to control home appliances using smartphone apps and to monitor medical devices remotely.

   

  But unless these systems have adequate security protection, the internet of things could easily become the internet of new things to be hacked. Plenty of people are eager to take advantage of any weaknesses they may spot. Hacking used to be about geeky college kids tapping away in their bedrooms to annoy their elders. It has grown up with a vengeance.

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• Critical thinking has been described as “reasonable reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do.”[2] It has also been described as “thinking about thinking.”[3] It has been described in more detail as “the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action”.[4] More recently, critical thinking has been described as “the process of purposeful, self-regulatory judgment, which uses reasoned consideration to evidence, context, conceptualizations, methods, and criteria.”[5]
• You will notice that ‘critical thinking’ often comes up in the context of persons trying to decide what to believe and what not to believe.
• Critical thinking involves thinking about epistemology, the study of how we know what we know, and even the study of whether we can know certain kinds of things.
• Philosophers of this particular field talk about the epistemic principles of the mind. Critical thinking also involves reasoning carefully about the role presuppositions play in one’s belief system and one’s reasoning.
• Critical thinking needs to involve not just the logic of one’s arguments, or one’s ability to analyze accurately empirical evidence. It also needs to be able to assess presuppositions.

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• The American Philosophical Association has defined critical thinking as "the process of purposeful, self-regulatory judgment. The process gives reasoned consideration to evidence, contexts, conceptualizations, methods, and criteria" (1990). Critical thinking is sometimes broadly defined as "thinking about thinking."
• Critical thinking skills include the ability to interpret, verify, and reason, all of which involve applying the principles of logic
• "Critical Thinking is essential as a tool of inquiry. As such, Critical Thinking is a liberating force in education and a powerful resource in one’s personal and civic life. While not synonymous with good thinking, Critical Thinking is a pervasive and self-rectifying human phenomenon. The ideal critical thinker is habitually inquisitive, well-informed, trustful of reason, open-minded, flexible, fair-minded in evaluation, honest in facing personal biases, prudent in making judgments, willing to reconsider, clear about issues, orderly in complex matters, diligent in seeking relevant information, reasonable in the selection of criteria, focused in inquiry, and persistent in seeking results which are as precise as the subject and the circumstances of inquiry permit."
  (American Philosophical Association, "Consensus Statement Regarding Critical Thinking," 1990)
• [C]ritical thinking is a fairly systematic method of defining a problem and synthesizing knowledge about it, thereby creating the perspective you need to develop new ideas. . . .

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• What is Critical Thinking? Why is it important?

     

   

  When an individual makes a decision, he should be identifying and evaluating evidence for and against the choice he is making. This process is called critical thinking. Analyzing evidence to guide one's decisions is key to being an effective thinker and making well-reasoned choices.  
• To teach a child critical thinking skills, you do not give him facts to memorize. Instead, you train a child to ask questions, seek alternative answers, try hypotheses, and consider other viewpoints. Critical thinking helps a child formulate the right questions, assess possible answers, judge the credibility of information and sources, and make solid judgments based on the evidence.

  • I can agree with this method. It's like when a toddler is exploring their surroundings and falls down. You can tell the baby not to go to the edge or they will fall again, but I think it's the pain that they do not want to experience again that keeps them from repeating.
• Critical thinking should be a component of every curriculum. Knowledge without critical thinking skills turns a person into a parrot. Fully developed human beings don't necessarily need all the answers but should have effective skills for formulating and evaluating the questions.

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