Digital Literacy, Wisdom and Partcipation

Chapter 7:

"The key questions then become: What are the key literacies and competencies for the twenty-first century, and how can we develop an education system that is adjusted to face these challenges of competence development for the future? Also, what do young people really know about media, and what implications does this have for learning in educational settings? Technology serves as both a driver and a lever for these transformations." (Thomas, 2011, p. 106) 

I'm always interested in how teachers are educating students in terms of digital literacy. Part of me thinks it should be an educational requirement in its own discipline and part of me thinks it should be covered in all disciplines as technology is used. I have been encouraging my teachers to note the CSOs and topics in digital literacy they use in their daily lesson plans. I know they are concerned with covering what is required in their own discipline and I know they are covering digital literacy topics with their classes as they pertain to the daily work. I think the latter is better because students are informed and then have to put it to use. Hopefully they will remember it next time they are doing something similar.

Chapter 8:

“It is perhaps not surprising that many of today’s undergraduate students are not ‘digitally wise’ when it comes to scholarly information seeking. Prensky notes that his concept of digital wisdom must be ‘learned and taught’ (2009, p. 7).” (Thomas, 2011, p. 132)

The Media Specialist at my school is very good at giving students and teachers information and direction to use the electronic resources in our high school. I know they use it when the teacher requires it, but my guess is they don’t use it if it isn’t required. I recall having a hard time trying to find scholarly information when I was in undergraduate school. I’m sure part of it for students today is just the comfort and convenience as suggested several times in this chapter.

Chapter 9:

“Using the Internet does not automatically guarantee participation in the information society, hence assistance is required in order to engage them in relevant activities. There is some support for using the definition of Internet activities related to “participatory culture” (Jenkins, 2009) since the activity of writing blog merits the feeling of participation.”  (Thomas, 2011, p. 148)

I found this Chapter a little difficult to get through. My understanding from this chapter is the participation in on-line activity is relative to the person doing the participation. I joined facebook several years ago only to have access to the pictures my college age children put on the internet. When I asked questions about activities, etc. they would tell me to look on their facebook account. However, since I really didn’t participate in the facebook community with posts, messages, tags, pictures, etc. I really wasn’t participating. My children told me I was called a “creeper”.


Thomas, M. (2011). Deconstructing digital natives: Young people, technology, and the new literacies. New York: Routledge.  

Digital literacy is the ability to understand and use information in multiple formats from a wide range of sources when it is presented via computers. The concept of literacy goes beyond simply being able to read; it has always meant the ability to read with meaning, and to understand. It is the fundamental act of cognition. Digital literacy likewise extends the boundaries of definition. It is cognition of what you see on the computer screen when you use the networked medium. It places demands upon you that were always present, though less visible, in the analog media of newspaper and TV. At the same time, it conjures up a new set of challenges that require you to approach networked computers without preconceptions. Not only must you acquire the skill of finding things, you must also acquire the ability to use these things in your life.

P. Gilster, Digital Literacy (New York, 1997), p.1-2

While I would like to think students would be taught some digital literacy skills at home, I know this is not taking place like it should. I believe it has to fall on the teachers because they are the ones teaching students to use some digital tools. The problem is, not all teachers know what digital literacy is or place the same emphasis on it. And students are learning to use digital tools on their own, before using them in class and therefore tune out anything the teacher might have to say about digital literacy.

I think Digital Literacy should be taught inclusively in schools. Otherwise the students have "checked out".