What is digital literacy?

Digital literacy means having the skills you need to live, learn, and work in a society where communication and access to information is increasingly through digital technologies like internet platforms, social media, and mobile devices

Developing your critical thinking skills (opens in new window) (PDF, 128 kB) is essential when you're confronted with so much information in different formats – searching, sifting, evaluating, applying, and producing information all require you to think critically.

Communication is also a key aspect of digital literacy. When communicating in virtual environments, the ability to clearly express your ideas, ask relevant questions, maintain respect, and build trust is just as important as when communicating in person.

You'll also need practical skills in using technology to access, manage, manipulate and create information in an ethical and sustainable way. It's a continual learning process because of constant new apps and updates, but your future self will thank you if you keep your digital life in order!

Digital literacy is really important now when you're a university student. It'll also be really important in the future when you enter the professional world. In your workplace, you'll be required to interact with people in digital environments, use information in appropriate ways, and create new ideas and products collaboratively. Above all, you'll need to maintain your digital identity and well-being as the digital landscape continues to change at a fast pace

Here you can learn more about the six elements of digital capability as modeled by Jisc (opens in new window). The Jisc model below illustrates the idea that proficiency in ICT (Information and Communication Technology) is a core element, whilst other skills overlap and build on this capability, and overarching it all is our digital identity and wellbeing.

Find out what digital literacy for more from this video:

Referrences:

Jisc. (2016). Digital capabilities: The six elements. Retrieved from https://www.jisc.ac.uk/rd/projects/building-digital-capability (opens in new window)

Drop into a campus library (opens in new window) and ask Library staff or chat with an Online Librarian (opens in new window) or ask a study expert.

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/studysmart/home/study_skills_guides/digital_literacy/what_is_digital_literacy#:~:text=Digital%20literacy%20means%20having%20the,social%20media%2C%20and%20mobile%20devices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LElWqXi7Ag&t=3s 

 the video about digital literacy

 Digital literacy refers to an individual's ability to find, evaluate, and communicate information through typing and other media on various digital platforms. It is evaluated by an individual's grammar, composition, typing skills and ability to produce text, images, audio and designs using technology. The American Library Association (ALA) defines digital literacy as "the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills."^[1] While digital literacy initially focused on digital skills and stand-alone computers, the advent of the internet and use of social media, has resulted in the shift in some of its focus to mobile devices. Similar to other expanding definitions of literacy that recognize cultural and historical ways of making meaning,^[2] digital literacy does not replace traditional forms of literacy, but instead builds upon and expands the skills that form the foundation of traditional forms of literacy.^[3] Digital literacy should be considered to be a part of the path to knowledge.^[4]

Digital literacy is built on the expanding role of social science research in the field of literacy^[5] as well as on concepts of visual literacy,^[6] computer literacy,^[7] and information literacy.^[8]

Overall, digital literacy shares many defining principles with other fields that use modifiers in front of literacy to define ways of being and domain-specific knowledge or competence. The term has grown in popularity in education and higher education settings and is used in both international and national standards.^[9]