Digital Literacy

There are elements of digital literacy in the General Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum. Map your current understanding of digital literacy to the General Capabilities.

My understanding of Digital Literacy has now expanded to not only include effective and safe use of ICT (word processing, web tools and social networking) but to include the components of information and critical literacy as stated by Wall and Ryan (2010, p. 31). These components include, defining, locating, selecting, organising, presenting and evaluating information and questioning, problem solving and reflective thinking.

DL is linked to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability of the Australian Curriculum (ACARA, 2013, p. 61). The elements that relate to digital literacy include (ACARA, 2013, pp. 61):

•             Recognising intellectual property

•             Using ICT to safely create, communicate and share information

•             Information literacy: locate, access, generate, organise, and analyse data

•             Selecting and evaluating the integrity and value of information sources

•             Generating ideas, plans and processes

•             Generating solutions to challenges and learning activities

•             Collaboratively constructing knowledge, sharing and exchanging

•             Applying technical knowledge and skills to efficiently and securely manage digital data

•             Understanding of context

Furthermore DL is linked to the Critical and Creative Thinking Capability and the elements which relate to digital literacy (ACARA, 2013, p. 78):

•             Inquiring – identifying, exploring and organising information and ideas

•             Seeking solutions and putting ideas into action

•             Reflecting on thinking and processes

•             Transfer knowledge into new contexts

•             Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures

 

•             Draw conclusions and design a course of action

How would you develop a digital literacy framework for your school in the context of the Australian Curriculum?

•             Through collaboration with staff and personnel with expert knowledge identify key aspect of DL that is nationally recognised to incorporate into the framework.

•             Use the ICT and Critical and Creative Thinking capability framework from Australian Curriculum General Capabilities as foundations to develop the DL framework.

•             Use Personal and Social Capability as well as the Ethical Understanding Capability to guide in the creation of the DL framework.

•             Create authentic learning opportunities with the use of technology.

Reference:

ACARA. (2013). General capabilities in the Australian curriculum.  Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/GeneralCapabilities/Overview/General-capabilities-in-the-Australian-Curriculum

Wall, J., & Ryan, S. (2010). Digital literacy : a resource for learning. Resourcing for curriculum innovation (pp. 31-35). Camberwell, Vic.: ACER Press