When it comes to the digital age, the internet is now such a wide and varied environment that it can be extremely important to not only know how to navigate it, but also to maximise its potential. While in previous years there has been a real focus on protecting younger generations from the negative aspects of online portals, the last few years have shown some emerging trends that are only growing in function and have been changing an array of aspects that impact everyday life. From increased job opportunities in the digital space to access to educational materials and even new ways to interact; schools are now beginning to think about how they can bring digital literacy into the classroom and properly diversify education for the modern student.
Why should schools consider teaching digital literacy?
In 2023, it’s not only adults that use the internet as an integral part of their daily lives, but children are also now making use of online portals for social interactions, entertainment, education and much more. Covid-19 had a significant impact on this, as children of all ages were suddenly forced to access digital facilities – and it fast became a necessity to learn online in ways that had previously not been considered. Although things have relatively returned to normal, the benefits of digital literacy have remained, and it is now the responsibility of schools of all sizes to think about continuing its implementation.
Why is digital literacy important?
While it can be important f or children to learn how to use a host of online tools to diversify their skill sets (this can include using CapCut templates to create innovative, eye-catching homework to using online photo editors to enhance presentations), the core values of digital literacy can also be extremely important to take into their adult lives. The key aspects are:
A better understanding of digital responsibility
One of the largest aspects of interacting online that commonly gets overlooked is the fact that almost any information shared will be immortalised. For example, if children use social media to negatively comment on posts or to share behaviour that may not be deemed appropriate, it won’t be difficult for potential employers in the future to find this information and use it to build a character reference. This means that it can be critical to teach children about digital responsibility, including how they consume media and communicate ethically online.
Increasing the focus on safety
While many schools already have some teaching protocols in place that may cover protecting privacy and ensuring safety when communicating with others online, these points are often not fleshed out enough. It has never been simpler for those who want to take advantage to create profiles and even products and services that will entice children to interact, so properly teaching online safety is imperative.
Supporting lifelong skills and educational progress
Technology is consistently evolving and has a growing place in a host of environments both on corporate and personal levels. Education is one of the sectors that makes significant use of technology and not only do physical devices such as computers and tablets now play a significant role in modern classrooms, but so does the internet and a host of software and resources that can be accessed online and applied to learning.
When you teach digital literacy, children will be less likely to feel fear or anxiety when using digital software and portals, and will learn core knowledge and skills that they will be able to apply across different types of technology. For example, it is becoming increasingly popular to fill out forms online – and if students are familiar with completing progress sheets, they will be likely to better answer challenging personal questions when it comes to applying for jobs.
Is it time to add digital literacy to the syllabus in 2023?
The answer is certainly yes. As the internet and technology continue to evolve into newer climates and have applications across all industries and sectors, it will be especially important for children to have both hard and soft skills relating to digital literacy. These could spell the difference between individuals being relevant candidates in future job markets both personally and professionally and being left behind in an increasingly digital world.
It’s important to know that teaching digital literacy right now will also help students to tackle the changing face of technology – which is something that happens almost every day in 2023. Innovation is a driving factor in tech, so the ability to meet challenges and adapt to new digital environments is likely to be essential. Baseline digital proficiency will be a must as the digital and workforce landscapes evolve – but more in-depth teaching and skill sets could properly prepare kids for a future we may not even yet conceptualise.
