What is Digital Literacy?

Traditional definitions of literacy encompass skills relating to reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Digital literacy encompasses a much broader range of skills. Technology is changing at an accelerating rate, so it is important to ask: how do we define digital literacy for our students? 

The Basics: At the most fundamental level, digital literacy requires students to know how to operate current digital devices, navigate typical user interfaces, and utilize various types of software.  Devices and interfaces continue to evolve, and our students adapt with these changes.

Reading Text that Mimics Print:  In simple electronic formats like an e-book or a PDF version of a newspaper article, the electronic version looks nearly identical to the print version. Students can quickly extract information and gain understanding from this format in the same way as they do with print.

Online Reading: Online reading, however, is a more complex skill since online articles often have extra embedded features, including video, images, and hyperlinks. As students read an online article, they need to make decisions as to whether or not they would like to leave the original text and access additional features to enhance their understanding.  

Finding Information: Since information online is seemingly infinite and continually evolving, students need to learn how to use a search engine by carefully selecting key words and critically navigating the results. It is important to note that this process is infinitely more complex than using the table of contents or index of a book. Online, students need to be able to sort through the abundant results and assess which sources provide relevant, accurate information.  

Content Creation: Writing online is now commonly called content creation, and users create email, blogs, social media posts, videos, podcasts, and more. This content is typically created with the purpose of being shared.  

Content Sharing and Appropriate Internet Behavior: With the wide variety of platforms designed to allow users to easily share content, it is vital to teach young people about the benefits and drawbacks of sharing information widely. Students can learn the benefits of creating and sharing information about issues or happenings in our community or society, but they must also know that sharing certain types of information can jeopardize one’s safety, privacy, or good name. Digital literacy also involves internet etiquette and ethical online behavior.

Communication and Collaboration: Digital technologies enable infinite possibilities for communication and collaboration with peers and teachers. Over time, students learn to share content and collaborate through platforms like email and video conferencing. Students also need to skillfully access course materials online.

Artificial Intelligence – Digital literacy also encompasses AI Literacy: knowing the basic functions of AI and how to use AI applications to evaluate, appraise, predict, and design.  

Digital Literacy at Brimmer: We value literacy (both print and digital) as an essential academic and life skill. Alissa Rosellini, the Lower School Librarian, uses the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Standards to inform her PK-Gr. 5 instruction. In library class, read-alouds, group discussions (often inspired by Common Sense Education) and research projects allow students to explore important ideas including copyright, plagiarism, and media balance. These concepts are introduced in the early grades and expanded upon throughout students’ time in the Lower School. For example, Kindergarten students watch and discuss a “What is Media?” video and by Grade 5, are creating Canva projects that showcase their digital footprints and allow them to reflect on their media choices.

At Brimmer, we view the elements of digital literacy within the context of our schools’ guiding principles: our students will be inspired to learn, encouraged to explore, and empowered to lead. The ways in which we utilize technology in Lower School classrooms are always intentional and student-centered.