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.
