Stephanie Majors's List: Digital Literacy

• digitally literate 
• • 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
• Media literacy
• a framework to access, analyze, evaluate, create and participate with messages in a variety of forms — from print to video to the Internet. Media literacy builds an understanding of the role of media in society as well as essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy.
• "Technology ignites opportunities for learning, engages today's students as active learners and participants in decision-making on their own educational futures and prepares our nation for the demands of a global society in the 21st century."
• We are serving a new generation of students, often referred to as Digital Natives.
• Digital Immigrants, that would be most of the teachers (but not all) do things like print our email, while the Natives do not even use email any more! They use text and instant messaging. We still get our news from the newspaper, and think a podcast is some kind of science fair project!  Only a handful of teachers understand how technology is a not a subject to teach but rather a tool to use with a Digital Native to let them power up and apply real world problem solving to their curriculum. These teachers are often referred to as Digital Transients. Teachers must meet students where they are, they must aspire to use the language of technology to engage their digitized learner in our globally collaborative world.
• According to The National Association for Media Literacy Education, media literacy is seen to consist of a series of communication competencies, including the ability to ACCESS, ANALYZE, EVALUATE, and COMMUNICATE information in a variety of forms, including print and non-print messages. Media literacy empowers people to be both critical thinkers and creative producers of an increasingly wide range of messages using image, language, and sound. It is the skillful application of literacy skills to media and technology messages.

6 more annotations...

• does digital literacy really matter? 
• For some, the answer is a resonant yes.  But, it’s not obvious.
• As we’ve explored the blogosphere it’s become clear that those who advocate for digital literacy are motivated by many different visions and world views. They also attack the challenge from different angles.
• Therein he posted a striking quote from media theorist Douglas Rushkoff.

• Of everything I’ve read, Rushkoff provides one of the more eloquent and compelling justifications for investing in digital literacy:

   

  When human beings acquired language, we learned not just how to listen but how to speak. When we gained literacy, we learned not just how to read but how to write. And as we move into an increasingly digital reality, we must learn not just how to use programs but how to make them. In the emerging, highly programmed landscape ahead, you will either create the software or you will be the software. It’s really that simple: Program, or be programmed.

3 more annotations...

• What does digital literacy really mean today?  And what might a Digital Literacy Agenda for 2012 include?
• Betsy, our friend at Google, replied directly arguing that “digital literacy” is too narrow a concept – we need to think more broadly about “digital citizenship,” she argues. “Understanding how to write code that builds an isolated piece of technology is like understanding how to read and write, or knowing the ins and outs of a particular subject like Biology. But understanding how the Internet works is like understanding the way society is governed.” 
• • Instead of a simple definition or basis for a general concept, technological & digital education should consist of these concepts and expound from that point on.
• In our view, basic tech education should center around three core concepts: Understanding, Creation, and Critique.
• Understanding
• Creation
• Critique
• It’s clear that in some cases, teaching these fundamentals may require the creation of new high school classes -  i.e. coding class.  But in many cases, it’s more about extending our existing classes in literature, history, and science to cover the technology related stories and topics.

6 more annotations...