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The Importance of Digital Literacy in the Classroom

Updated: Feb 8, 2022



 

How do you define Digital Literacy? #ICT361

According to the Ontario Extend website, "Digital Literacy is the use of technology tools effectively to address specific learning challenges is just one aspect of digital literacies for teaching. These literacies encompass the abilities to locate, use, summarize, evaluate, create, and communicate information while using digital technologies and web-based platform". Digital Literacy is necessary because it teaches people in society to start using technology the right way. It can help us explore a whole new world of various online platforms and take advantage of the opportunity that it offers.

In terms of a classroom environment, digital literacy provides educators with a new way of teaching that is beneficial for students who rely on technology. Kids nowadays are attracted to technology. It is pretty much their life. Younger kids can easily grasp the concept of technology (social media platforms). The real question is, do they know how to use it properly? This question acts as an argument for educators to start using it inside the classroom. Digital literacy is crucial because it plays a big part in creating a proper online identity for a student. Digital literacy is necessary because it guides a single child, making them independent in their choice making. After all, and they would be able to differentiate what is right or wrong. As aspiring educators, it is our job to pass on the message of digital literacy and use it as a platform to teach students that they need to be aware of what they post online.

In short, digital literacy is the knowledge and skills to use various technology platforms proficiently. Educators must start implementing this message inside the classroom because it guides students to make the right choice. Taking advantage of these social media platforms can make learning easier and accessible for students. Students are inspired to do better and pass on the message that we must be aware of what we post online.





 

Why is Digital Literacy important? #DigitalLiteracy


Digital Literacy is necessary because it provides the teachers a different learning method. By implementing digital literacy inside the classroom, students will learn to use technology safely and effectively. According to powerschool.com, "Students can move beyond a process-oriented understanding of technology and apply digital resources creatively in their original work." The quotation is very significant because it provides evidence that by defining digital literacy, students will learn how to use digital resources properly. Click the link below for more information!!


 

Why should you start using technology in your classroom?


Teachers should start using digital literacy because it shows students a different perspective for learning. It teaches the students how to locate, use, summarize, evaluate, create, and communicate important information while various technology platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Google, etc. According to the article from HenryHarvin.com, "If teachers are digitally literate, they perceive technology as a source of creative potential, rather than something mandatory to learn. By being digitally literate, educators become more open to trying out different teaching tools. Videos, podcasts, and other social media platforms can keep students engaged in learning a new topic.


Secondly, teachers should start using technology in the classrooms. Another outbreak of a virus will cause everyone in society to go into quarantine. The only hope is to use social media platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams can help teachers to continue to teach. Educators must be digitally literate because it makes learning easier and accessible. By using technology, students will learn the importance of curating a positive online identity, and they will also learn to use these platforms the right way. Using technology could also be considered as a different learning strategy.


 

The importance of Digital Citizenship

According to the Applied Educational System website, Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of technology by anyone who uses computers, the Internet, and digital devices to engage with society on any level. Digital citizenship is necessary because it influences the person to use technology the right way creating a positive identity. A person who has the ability and knowledge to use various digital technology is called a digital citizen. Being a digital person means they use different social media platforms to interact, communicate, and engage with other people to create educational content. Using technology is crucial because it builds synergistic relationships with other people, and it shares the message that we can use technology to share knowledge and information.



 

My Initial and Final thoughts on the First and Second week of classes


The first and second week of classes has been a blast. Being inside the classroom is quite different from taking classes online. The first week of classes was quite challenging. Our fifth-year cohort felt that it was different from the year before because all sessions were online synchronous. With an ongoing pandemic, it is challenging to have in-person learning because there was a change in what we consider now the new "norm." For example, masks are mandatory, table sanitization is required, and you have to be six feet apart from each other. These examples are just a few things that we have to be aware of for this new way of learning. Nonetheless, I am ecstatic that I get to spend my last year in person (for now) and hopefully have graduation in person.

On the other hand, the second week of classes was easier because my classmates and myself were slowly getting used to our new class schedules and this new norm. The main topic for our Using Information & Communication Technology (ICT) class is that Digital Literacy plays a huge role in learning. According to the Ontario Extend website, Digital literacy is used to summarize, evaluate, create, and communicate information while using digital technologies and web-based platforms. As we can see from this quotation, digital literacy is helpful because it teaches people to use technology to summarize and communicate information to other people. With everyone in quarantine the year before, educators used technology to teach using different social platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc. It only proves that it is necessary as aspiring educators that we become digitally literate.

My main takeaway from these past few weeks is that being digitally literate is very necessary for teaching. Digital literacy teaches teachers and students that we must be careful when curating our online identities. We need to take advantage of these different social platforms and use it to increase our knowledge and make learning easier by implementing these various strategies. Lastly, check out my twitter page @AnferneeNiones if you have more questions and keep an eye out for #ICT361.













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