Lesson 5:

Digital
Digital Literacy
Literacy Skills
Skills
in
in the
the
21st Century
21st Century
 The 21st Century has redefined digital literacy. It has broadened its perspective to include other
aspects of the 21st context. These literacies include (1) Cyber Literacy or Digital Literacy, (2) Media
Literacy, (3) Arts and Creativity Literacy, (4) Financial Literacy, (6) Multicultural Literacy or Global
Understanding.

This lesson will focus on digital skills and digital literacy as a response to the 21st Century
developments.

The millennial students are generally tech-savvy, digital natives. They practically know how to go
about a tablet, an ipad, smartphones or laptops better than anyone else. This suggests their digital
skills.

However, are all students digital literates?

Thinking on how to use the digital tools, accessing information, and exhibiting ways of working in a
globally competitive contexts, together with skills in living in the 21st Century refer to the digital
literacies.
What is Digital Literacy?
Digital literacies are the individual's capabilities to be able to effectively and responsibly function and
perform in a digital society. The term 'digital literacy was coined by Paul Gilster in 1997 and it came
from the discussion of the concepts on:

(a) Visual literacy when images and non-verbal symbols try to capture the knowledge

(b) Technological literacy requiring one to be able to use technology in addressing a need:

(c) computer literacy, which in the 1980s started to become a household item manipulated to achieve
one's target; and

(d) information literacy which refers to the finding, evaluating, using and sharing of information.
The Digital Literacies
Media Literacy
one's ability to critically read information or content and utilize multimedia in creatively
producing communications.

Information Literacy
locating information from the web and interpreting while evaluating its validity in order that it
can be shared.

ICT Literacy
knowing how to select and use digital devices, applications or services to accomplish tasks
requiring the use of the internet.
Communications and Collaboration
One’s capabilities in being able to participate in the digital networks in the teaching and learning
context.

Identity Management
Being able to understand how to ensure safety and security in managing online identity and
fostering a positive digital reputation.

Learning Skills
are ways of knowing how to study and learn in a tech enriched environment; this is knowing
how to utilize technology in addres need to learn efficiently.

Digital Scholarship is being able to link and participate in profession research practices.

One important component of digital literacy is having an of concepts requiring essential core skills.
These core skills are known the 21st Century Skills.
 The 4 Cs of the 21st Century Skills
All of these 21st century skills are essentials for students to do well in
school and succeed in the workplace.
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is learning how to solve problems. It
teaches students not to accept immediately claims without
'seeking the truth. It is the ability to differentiate facts from
opinions and not only just learn a set of facts or figures but
also discover these for the sake of knowing what ought to
be. Creativity
Creativity encourages students to think beyond the
expectations of conventions. However, creativity may not
ensure success all the time but it may lead to another direction
that can actually be a better way of figuring out how to solve
the problem those that others may not see.
 The 4 Cs of the 21st Century Skills
COMMUNICATION
Makes students express their ideas in the clearest and
organized manner. Through varied modes mediated or a
blended medium, they need to know how to efficiently
face-to-face, technologically and clearly convey ideas.

COLLABORATION
Collaboration Happens when students know how to
work well with others to accomplish a given task or solve
a problem at hand. This is a 21st essential. When students
are made to work with others in a pair or in a team, they
are given the chance to practice how to relate with others
Digital Literacy Skills vs. Digital Literacy
Digital Literacy Skills
- Digital literacy skills are required in the wired world. These skills vary from texts to images to
multimedia.

Lynch (2017), identified eight digital literacy skills needed to become digitally literate. These are:

1. Coding – Coding is a universal language. Basic understanding of HTML, CSS and the like will
create a shared understanding of what can be done with the web pages.
2. Collaboration – The use of Google Docs among others allows student to begin experimenting
with effective online collaboration.
3. Cloud software – This is essential part of document management. The cloud is used to store
everything from photos to research projects, to term papers and even music.
4. Word Processing Software – Google, Microsoft Online Drop Box are available for storage and
management solutions.
5. Screencasting – A screencast is a video recording using the computer screen, and usually includes
an audio.
6. Personal Archiving – Students should be taught the concepts of meta – data, tagging, keywords
and categories to make them aware how are they represented online.
7. Information evaluation – Critical thinking to weed out fake news is a crucial 21st century skill.
The use of tools and skills needed to process information are very much needed.
8. Use of social media – Social media serves different purposes depending on the user, the technology
and the need.
 Digital Skill Digital Literacy

1. Evaluate the appropriate digital channel for online communication

1. Sending an email or text
with peers, teacher, and parents.

1. Identify the benefits and drawbacks of each digital tool.

2. Using Microsoft Office/Google
2. Evaluate critically which tool is most effective for the project at hand.

1. Navigate the social media safely to pro- tect oneself.

3. Tweeting, Posting to Facebook, Uploading a Video to YouTube, or
posting a photo to Instagram
2. Identify hate propaganda and fake news.

1. Evaluate the information online.

a. Is the site legitimate?

4. Researching from the worldwide web
b. Is the author an expert?

c. Is the information current or dated? d. Is the idea neutral or biased?