Digital Literacy

 

When it comes to literacy, the first thing that comes to mind is reading, writing, speaking and listening. Literacy is one of the important indicators of the development level of a society.

In addition to traditional media, many new forms of literacy such as "visual literacy", "computer literacy" and "advertisement literacy" have emerged today, where new media and digital technologies have significantly changed our lives.

 

Digital Media Literacy (Digital Literacy)

Digital media literacy basically means a literacy that includes the ability of individuals to use new media environments effectively and to know how to read new media content, as well as to produce unique content specific to new media environments. In other words, digital media literacy can also be defined as grasping the characteristics of new communication and sharing technologies and environments, knowing their cultural characteristics, and mastering the new media language.

The concept of digital literacy first emerged in 1997 with the book of the same name written by Paul Gilster. In the book, digital literacy is expressed as the ability to understand and use the information presented in the digital environment in different ways. Well; It is the ability to reach existing information using digital technologies and to produce information by using this information effectively. At the same time, it is necessary to know, process, hold and transfer the information obtained. Ability to summarize, synthesize, compile and present information is required.

The International Educational Technologies Society (ISTE) has determined digital literacy criteria around six standards.

1.Creativity and innovation

2. Communication and collaboration

3. Research and knowledge fluency

4. Critical thinking

5. Problem solving and decision making

6. Digital citizenship and technology operations and concepts

The qualities that make up digital literacy are classified according to three main principles.

1.Usage: The skills and competencies covered by use range from basic technical knowledge, using computer programs, to more advanced more effective abilities to access and use information sources such as search engines.

2. Understanding: Understanding is the most critical part. It helps us understand, contextualize and critically evaluate digital media. This helps us make informed decisions about what we do and encounter online.

3. Creating: It is the ability to produce content and communicate effectively with various digital media tools. Digital literacy has recently been of great importance to use and understand digital media effectively. Today, people use new expression and communication techniques, different from the past. Digital literacy is to be able to reach the data in real and virtual environment accurately for the desired purpose and to use it effectively with the right method.

 

Why is digital literacy important?

The dominance of technology in our daily lives highlights how important digital literacy is. The digital world offers great benefits and advantages to anyone who is interested. However, it is important to use and understand technology correctly so that it is not dangerous.

Media professionals and educators are increasingly focusing on the benefits of digital literacy skills in schools as well. Because today's students see the internet as the main source of information. In this respect, it is important for students to be digitally literate in terms of how they will find and consume digital content. This way they know how to create, forward and share content.

Students who develop their digital literacy skills; They understand the basics of internet security, such as creating strong passwords, understanding and using privacy settings, and knowing what to share and what not to share on social media.

 

Why is reading online not "digital literacy"?

Students who use both cognitive and technical skills to find, evaluate, create and communicate information are certainly on their way to becoming digitally literate and knowledgeable consumers of digital content.

It's important to remember that reading online or subscribing to an e-book service doesn't make a digitally literate student. Yes, students can also gain growth by reading online because reading practice, time spent reading is the key to success for students of all levels.

 

Basic Concepts of Digital Literacy

1.Digital Media is Network Connected.

Unlike traditional media, digital media has a lot of connectivity. In traditional media, content is only one way.In digital media, you are no longer the last link of a distribution chain, but a node in the middle of an endless network. That means everyone is connected to everything. As a result, barriers to participation are much lower than in traditional media, and anyone can post content and find an audience.

2.Digital Media is Permanent, Searchable and Shareable.

Digital content is permanent, everything transmitted is stored in one place, can be searched and indexed. Given that digital media is networked, this means that most of the content can be copied, shared or disseminated at insignificant cost. Even seemingly temporary posts (like Snapchat photos) can be copied and are almost always stored on the platform's servers.

3. Digital Media Have Unknown and Unexpected Audiences

Because digital media is networked and digital content is shareable, what you share online can be seen by people you don't want or expect to see it.

4. Although Digital Media Experiences Are Real, They Don't Always Feel Real.

Being connected means that all digital media is interactive, at least to some degree. We are never just passive spectators, we are always part of what is happening. Because it is interactive, we often respond to online events as if we were actually there, but many of the clues to tell us and how others are feeling are missing.

5. How We React and Behave When Using Digital Media is Influenced by the Architecture of Platforms Reflecting the Prejudices and Assumptions of their Creators.

One of the most fundamental features of media literacy is that the form of the environment affects how we "read" or experience the text. While this remains true in digital media, the network effect means that a platform's architecture only influences the meaning and message of digital media, down to the algorithms that determine how it delivers content to us from the user interface we interact with.

 

Digital Literacy in Children

Children have a great advantage with an understanding of digital literacy. In such a connected world, the development of children's digital skills starts from an early age. In such a connected world, the development of children's digital skills starts from an early age. These technical skills are used in most classrooms and workforces. For children in almost every industry, digital literacy will be important when they start their careers. Since most schools will now require projects and assignments to be submitted online, children are expected to have basic skills such as being able to write a document, do research using a search engine, send an email, and also use the internet safely. Now more than ever, the digital literacy curriculum has become mandatory. Where we run into problems is the use of technology without a clear understanding of its purpose. Children who use social media need to understand how it works, who can see it, and what digital footprint they leave behind.