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| An understanding of Digital Literacy |
It is now very clear to me that at the end of it all Digital Literacy should make an individual a true Digital Citizen. In my limited understanding, I had thought digital literacy should just focus on imparting digital skills on an individual making him/her in position to carryout basic manipulation of digital tools and, probably, effective communication to other individuals online. This was of course a limited perception of the whole concept of digital literacy. I now see that digital literacy goes a long way in making individuals successfully and productively integrated in different communities. They are equipped to generously contribute to knowledge pools and to have their say in a more organised and acceptable manner. The basic skills for using digital media tools are just the foundations for digital literacy. When a learner is given access to technology, content, a learning network and guidance; the individual will not only acquire the relevant skills but will also go a head and get in-depth insight in the use of digital technology. The learner will go even further to have the right values and 'digital etiquette' (if you please) impressed upon them.
The learner who goes through the above processing eventually becomes 'patriotic' digital citizen fully culturally empowered, having social rights and responsibility, aware of his/her identity and fully competent in the use of digital technology. Such an individual can go down to those climbing the ladder of digital literacy and help them reach and surpass where he/she (the digital citizen) currently is -- while learning a few new things themselves. They are able to effectively use appropriate digital technologies to creatively and positively impact their local and global communities.
All this said, I still feel like my understanding of Digital Literacy can still be enhanced. And this is true.
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