It is essential for people of all ages to become more digitally literate, to enhance their education of the digital world and to become more familiar and comfortable with innovated technologies. Throughout the past two decades, technology has completely changed our society. We have gone from typewriter to computer, from mobile phones to Blackberrys, and from wired to wireless. Virtually everything we do is done through the virtual world. In order to stay up to date with all the newest technologies and practices one must be well versed in the digital world, one must be digitally literate. In “The Mandate of Digital Literacy” Charles W.P. Finn defines digital literacy as, “A means for ascertaining the computer skills competency of an individual to function in the workplace. It will become increasingly necessary to be digitally literate to function in a digital, Internet-connected economy.” Those who cannot be sufficiently digitally literate will cease to exist in advanced work places.
Due to its importance, it is never too soon to begin children’s education of digital literacy. In “Investigating Children’s Emerging Digital Literacies,” Harouna Ba defines digital literacy as, “a set of habits through which children use computer technology for learning, work, socializing, and fun.” Today’s children are tomorrow’s future and they must be well versed in the current technologies in order to succeed in the competitive world. It is essential that digital education, such as blogs and online education, be implemented in the school systems so that we have a world of fully competent, digitally literate citizens.
Works Cited
Ba, Harouna, Tally Willam, Tsikalas, Kallen. “Investigating Children’s Emerging Digital Literacies.” The Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment. Aug. 2002. http://escholarship.bc.edu/jtla/vol1/4/
Finn, Charles W.P. “The Mandate of Digital Literacy.” Tech & Learning. Aug. 1 2004. http://www.techlearning.com/article/2602
Well done, Ben!
ReplyDeleteWhen you mentioned how it is essential for people of all ages to be more familiar and comfortable with technology, I instantly thought of my grandparents. It's amazing how uninformed the older age groups are about something as seemingly simple as a cell phone or word processor. In order to prevent future "illiteracy", I definitely agree with your strong stance that digital education needs to be implemented in the school system. This is a step that will take the leaders of the future to the necessary level of competency in this technology-centered world.
Well written. I like how you summed up the definition of digital literacy, especially the part about being familiar and comfortable about the technologies. It was clear and easy to understand.
ReplyDeleteAlso it was good that you stressed the importance of being digitally literate to succeed in the society. The comment that digitally illiterate people will cease to exist in work places might seem a little extreme, but I do actually agree with the point because it is true that nowadays, the society cannot function without technology.