Digital Literacy Spaces

Digital Literacy is being able to use information and communication technologies that help you find, evaluate, create, and communicate data that requires both cognitive and technical skills.

What is Digital Literacy?

Digital Literacy showcases a person’s ability to find, evaluate, create, and communicate data by using typing or digital media platforms. Being literate has more meaning now than being able to read, write, and comprehend any written text. The discovery of computers and Internet has introduced a variety of literary concepts such as computer literacy, media literacy, information literacy, and digital literacy.

In the digital world, there is a vast amount of media platforms and data. Digital Literacy is the most relevant concept because it makes sure the users protect their personal information and privacy, evaluate digital findings and information, properly use digital platforms, and communicate with other people.

Class Definitions for Digital Literacy:

In our class discussion, we defined “literacy” as:

• Being proficient in reading and writing in a specific field of study
• Understanding and having the capability to engage at a basic level in a subject
• Understanding and being able to express where the fluency excels basic literacy
• Literacy is a prerequisite for becoming fluent

We defined “digital literacy” as:

• Having a basic understanding of digital tools, content, creations
• Having an understanding of the tools, content, and significance of the programming
• Involving the multiple layers, formats, and forms in the digital space
• Learning about the different competencies which allows you to be a beginner in one form while being an expert in another form

Multiliteracies

In Doug Eyman’s “Defining and Locating Digital Rhetoric” , he focuses on the connection between digital literacy and multiliteracies.

Multiliteracy refers to the ability to understand and communicate in different forms of communication, surrounded by traditional text as well as visual, digital, and multimedia forms. It means that you are skilled in different literacies such as digital literacy, visual literacy, textual literacy, and technological literacy which allows you to engage in and create meaning through these diverse communication experiences.

4 Types of Multiliteracies

First, Digital Literacy allows you to communicate, navigate, understand, and evaluate the different digital spaces. 

Then, Visual Literacy Skills are necessary to understand and engage with the visual aspects of communication through different media platforms such as pictures. 

Next, Textual Literacy means being able to read, understand context, evaluate information, and ask questions when you do not understand. 

Finally, Technological Literacy focuses on being proficient in understanding, using, and managing technology in a successful and responsible way. It focuses on generating, evaluating, and including information. Technological literacy skills are important to navigate, contribute, and grow in a digital and technological world.

Examples of Multiliteracies

Digital Literacy: 

• Social media information shared on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

• Creating videos on YouTube, Tiktok, Reels which requires you to understand multimedia content creation

• Engaging in and participating in digital spaces, comments, blog posts, forums, and websites

• Being able to study and understand data using the digital tools and platforms 

• Understanding and making the right decisions to establish online security and protect against any computer viruses and cyber threats

• Researching the information you find on the internet, acknowledge the biases information, and make the right judgment in digital spaces

• Using various digital aspects to communicate such as emails, messaging apps, video calls, and Microsoft Teams

• Being able to understand basic coding vocabulary and programming ideas which will make it easier to engage in the growing digital process.

Visual Literacy:

• Studying and Understanding the visual techniques, storytelling, and symbolism used in different movies

• Understanding the important message and visual elements in videos for entertainment, informational, and research purposes

• Understanding the meaning and important messages shared through cartoons such as visual metaphors and symbols

• Evaluating the layout, design, and visual aspects of posters to understand the important message and exact meaning behind the poster regarding the information displayed on it 

• Evaluating and understanding artwork, understanding why the artwork was completed using the specific color, symbols, and composition

• Understanding the story, feelings, and visual elements captured in photos 

• Understanding the information shared through computer-generated processes such as educational programs or virtual learning environments

Examples of Multiliteracies

Textual Literacy:

• Researching and understanding the themes, content, and context of the books

• Evaluating the quality and honest information shared in blog posts, the writer’s opinions and purpose of sharing that information should be considered

• Evaluating news articles to understand the facts of the latest news, breaking news, or latest headlines. Disregard the biased articles, perspectives, and false information shared in the news articles. Analyze the quality of information being shared

• Evaluating the information shared on different websites, you should look out for the accurate information, the source, and what is the objective of the information shared

• Engaging with reading information by asking questions about theories, acknowledging the arguments, and evaluating the true facts 

• Analyzing and understanding the information, the methods, and results of academic research papers

• Clarifying the right information is discovered on the internet and understanding what is a good source of information versus what is a wrong source of information

• Understanding and evaluating legal documents such as contracts, agreements, bank information, personal identification information, etc. 

Technological Literacy:

• Building and creating a website, understanding how to do a layout design, coding, and content creation

• Using the internet search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Safari to find and evaluate information

• Creating and maintaining social media accounts which focuses on understanding privacy settings and being a responsible online user

• Being able to communicate digitally such as using email, sending text messages or using a group chat for professional and personal conversations 
• Using the software tools to evaluate data, understand the results, and draw conclusions

• Applying the right ways to protect your personal and digital information from cyber threats and computer viruses

• Using digital tools and digital resources to work together on projects 

• Using online programs for education such as reading and math. Leaning to navigate through the courses, how to submit the assignments and submit the course modules, and engage in a virtual learning environment