Over the last two classes, we explored two key branches of digital literacy: Digital Citizenship and Research & Information Literacy. These discussions allowed us to consider in depth how each branch contributes to fostering responsible, ethical, and informed digital engagement.

Overview of Key Topics

Week 5: Digital Citizenship – Navigating the Digital World Responsibly

The BC Digital Literacy Framework defines digital citizenship as the ability to understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. In our session, we discussed how digital citizenship encompasses a range of skills and knowledge, from learning to maintain a digital footprint to respecting others’ intellectual property. We touched on the importance of Internet safety, cyberbullying, and the advantages and risks of online relationships. Additionally, we covered self-image and identity in the online environment, exploring how digital spaces can influence or distort perceptions of self and others and how we can support the development of this critical awareness.

Week 6: Research & Information Literacy

This week we discussed building skills for Informed Decision-Making and information literacy, including how a digitally literate person uses the Internet to do research effectively and responsibly. This includes understanding that anyone can publish on the Web, so not all sites are equally trustworthy to understanding both the benefits and drawbacks of using collective intelligence, (crowdsourcing), in different contexts. We also talked about using technology ethically and effectively to gather, organize, analyze, and judge the relevance and purpose of digital information.

Key Takeaways

Across both sessions, a recurring theme was the importance of teaching these digital literacy skills early and in developmentally appropriate ways. A major takeaway of our discussion was how not only learners but also educators, leaders, and others can benefit from support to make informed, evidence-based decisions aligned with digital literacy standards. Furthermore, while limiting access to technology in the classroom can be beneficial to learners in terms of minimizing distraction, we discuss how access to technology is key for developing lifelong competencies. Additionally, we left with an understanding that digital literacy isn’t just about navigating technology—it’s about cultivating informed, responsible, and balanced ways of interacting.

 

Digital Citizenship & Info Literacy Tasks

Blog Post

Consider one of the following topics

  • What is your DigCitCommit? – one thing you will commit to this year to promote digital citizenship in your work or life
  • In an age of information overload, how can we teach students to critically evaluate online sources and differentiate credible information from misinformation? What strategies have you found effective in fostering research and information literacy skills in educational settings?”

You are welcome to consider the following supplemental readings as you consider your blog post. NOTE: You can always choose to write about readings and/or questions of your own.

Moylan, R., & Code, J. (2024). Algorithmic futures: An analysis of teacher professional digital competence frameworks through an algorithm literacy lens. Teachers and Teaching, 30(4), 452-470.

O’Byrne, W. I., Crandall, B. R., Price-Dennis, D., Witte, S., Goering, C. Z., & Dail, J. S. When you know better, do better: Developing antiracist, digitally literate educators through critical media literacy. In Teaching for Equity, Justice, and Antiracism with Digital Literacy Practices (pp. 69-86). Routledge

Pangrazio, L., & Selwyn, N. (2019). ‘Personal data literacies’: A critical literacies approach to enhancing understandings of personal digital data. New Media & Society, 21(2), 419-437

Yim, I. H. Y., & Su, J. (2024). Artificial intelligence (AI) learning tools in K-12 education: A scoping review. Journal of Computers in Education, 1-39.

Continue to conceptualize your resource

Continue to explore the MED project repository for inspiration! Jot down some answers to these questions from this week

  • What could you do / create to address your identified problem?
  • Is there one clear resource or are there multiple completing possibilities?
  • If there are multiple, how will you decide between the options?
  • Who is the audience (e.g students, educators, education leaders, coaches)
  • How will you deliver it? (Format / Tools)
  • What is your timeline
  • What learning / pro-d do you need to do to create this resource?
  • How will your resource align with a digital literacy framework / theory and research of open and online learning?

 

Book an assessment meeting (s)

Reminder instead of synchronous class next week, we have assessment meetings. Book one 30 min assessment meeting with Valerie and Mariel (30 mins each) between now and Nov 6 This deadline can be flexible. Drafts of varying levels of completeness are welcome! If it would be helpful to meet before hand as you conceptualize your resource plan, book a pre-meeting! This is part of our instructional time in the course, so please take advantage of this time.