Edstruct

What is digital literacy? 

Digital literacy refers to the ability to effectively use and understand digital technology, including the internet, to access, evaluate, and communicate information. Being digitally literate means that you can consume, create, and communicate information.

• Consuming information involves the ability to access and understand digital information, such as reading online news articles or using an e-reader. 

• Creating information involves the ability to create and edit digital content, such as videos, articles, and PDFs. 

• Communicating information involves the ability to share and communicate digital information with others, through methods such as email, social media, or online collaboration tools.

Why should you improve your digital skills? 

First, digital literacy is important for academic success. Many colleges and universities, and most other educational institutions for that matter, now use online learning platforms and other digital tools to deliver course material and facilitate student collaboration. Students who are digitally literate are better able to take advantage of these resources and use them to their full potential. Unfortunately, half of all Americans are not confident in using technology to learn.

Second, digital literacy is becoming increasingly important in the modern workplace. Many jobs now require employees to be proficient in a range of digital tools and technologies such as social media, productivity software, and online collaboration platforms. Yet, one-third of working-age Americans lack foundational digital skills and one in six are unable to use email, web search, or other basic online tools. By developing your digital literacy skills, you can better prepare yourself for the job market and be more competitive in your job search.

A common misperception is that underdeveloped digital literacy skills will age out as Millenials and Gen Z grow up; however, the following statistics show otherwise:

• Individuals under the age of 35 make up 25% of workers with no digital skills, and 29% of those with limited skills

• 58% of millennials struggle to use digital tools and networks to solve relatively simple problems that involve skills like sorting, searching for, and emailing information from a spreadsheet

Third, digital literacy is important for personal growth and development. In today's world, the internet is a vast repository of knowledge and information and being able to navigate it effectively can open many new opportunities for learning and personal growth. By developing your digital literacy skills, you can better access this wealth of information and use it to expand your horizons and grow as an individual.

Overall, there are many compelling reasons for you to improve your digital literacy skills. By doing so, you can succeed in your academic pursuits, better prepare yourself for the job market, and take advantage of the many opportunities for personal growth and development that are available online.