21st Century Capabilities: Digital Literacy

As noted at our April 1 meeting, the plan is to address one capability per week for the next five weeks. This week we're moving on to Digital Literacy.

Below you'll find the definition of Digital Literacy as determined by the two teams from the April 1 meeting along with ideas about how that capability might translate to the workplace, higher education and community life.

After taking a moment to review the definitions, respond to the following questions:

• How important might this capability be for SPS students?
• What might be the implications if we don’t explicitlyaddress the capability through curriculum, instruction, and assessment, i.e., if we maintain the status quo?

Team I Description/Definition: Is the ability to use a variety of technological tools; to access information, filter it, and then apply it in original and ethical works or products.

Team J Description/Definition: The ability to operate, search, and obtain reliable information via electronic means to create and achieve desired results.

What might this capability look like in business or the workplace?

Team I

• Analyze global trends
• Application or use of tech. tools
• Being able to use the program or programs that your business uses such as PowerPoint, Excel, etc.
• Blend digital data with other realms of data
• Communicate with social media
• Communication
• Flexibility
• Knowing how to use various software
• Mandatory
• Problem solving
• Produce advertisements
• Providing time to learn
• Rapidly assimilate information
• Reflection
• Transfer
• Value human connections
• Valuing company time!

Team J

• International communication
• Interpersonal
• Interpretation of digital slang and/or various language
• Meetings-formal and informal
• One to one initiatives (1 computer to 1 student)
• Podcasts/webinar
• There is an application for that, I-phone
• Troubleshooting tech problems
• Use technology to be competitive in the global workforce
• Webinars/interaction
• Website

What might this capability look like in higher education?

Team I

• Communication
• Distance learning
• Evaluate research
• Gaining a global/international perspective
• Graphic designer/interior designer
• Mandatory
• Online courses/degrees
• Produce a product
• Research/producing

Team J

• 3G network
• Balance of electronic learning with human element
• Classes to prepare for society
• Communication with teacher and students via technology
• Discernment of information
• Distance learning
• Fact us misinformation (internet)
• Safe place to create and learn
• Seeking information from sources other than traditional textbooks

What might this capability look like in the community or life experience?

Team I

• Access to computers
• Being able to teach yourself a new program
• Communication
• Development of technology norms/etiquette
• Fact-finding
• Networking
• Skype your daughter in new Zealand
• Writing a research paper

Team J

• An increased gap of “haves” & “have nots”
• Better informed citizens
• Delivery of professional development learning
• Informed decisions for consumers
• Keeping friends and family connected
• Knowledge of how to use technology
• Libraries transformed to media centers
• Obtain reliable/trustworthy information to make informed decisions on election day
• Skype
• Texting language (LOL)