What
Digital Literacy Looks Like in a Classroom
If students are “glued” 24/7 to their mobile
devices, why is it necessary for schools to teach digital literacy? Who should
teach it? And wait … what does it even mean to be “digitally literate”?
If these are questions you’ve heard or asked,
you aren’t alone. Many educators struggle to understand their evolving role in
teaching and using technology in their classrooms. Most importantly, many of us
wrestle with how technology is shifting the way kids learn.
The New York Department of Education defines
digital literacy as “having the knowledge and ability to use
a range of technology tools for varied purposes.” Digitally literate people are
those who “can use technology strategically to find and evaluate information,
connect and collaborate with others, produce and share original content, and
use the Internet and technology tools to achieve many academic, professional,
and personal goals.”
Most teachers recognize those skills as
critical for 21st-century learning. But before teachers and students dive into
using technology in class, we should discuss why a digital literacy curriculum
is necessary.
The Myth of ‘Digital Natives’
Many
adults think that because children have been immersed in a technology since a
young age, they are naturally “literate” or skilled in using technology.
Younger generations have been labeled “digital
natives” while older generations are “digital
immigrants.” Some
research suggests this labeling is outright
false—students are no more literate with devices than their so-called digital
immigrant parents.
Creating a Digital Literacy Curriculum
Like
traditional literacy, students and adults alike benefit from guidance,
instruction, and practice. Educators should define
essential skills and steps for helping
students navigate their devices (and the unfettered world of the Internet).
It’s also important to take appropriate steps toward digital literacy based on children’s
stage of development. Common Sense Media has developed a scope
and sequence curriculum to
help teachers and districts formalize digital literacy instruction.
Teachers
should also help students develop healthy habits and attitudes when using
technology. Educators need to take an active role in helping them understand
the benefits, dangers, and opportunities technology provides.
