Digital literacy may sound like the educational idea, disciplinary literacy, and there is a reason for that. Similar to disciplinary literacy, digital literacies can be applied across the disciplines and they give students tools meet common core standards or other benchmarks in the different content areas. When students are given the opportunity to strengthen their digital literacy skills, they will find new ways to analyze, make connections and problem solve.
So, what is digital literacy? Digital literacies refer to the skill set needed to navigate digital mediums such as computers, computer applications, electronic learning tools, electronic sources and even calculators. Although many students are exposed to digital tools every day, they may not possess the knowledge to use these tools academically. In order to benefit from digital tools, students must develop digital literacy.
Digital literacy looks different across the content areas. Digital mathematics literacy is defined as “the types of literacies necessary to question, construct, and participate in both consuming and producing mathematical knowledge through multiple modes of text, including image, print and speech,” (Siebert & Draper, 2017). Students need digital mathematics literacy to use math tools including calculators or computer applications for charting/drawing. Digital literacies are needed when using a calculator to enter formulas, express fractions and to operate the software via buttons.
It is important for teachers to be fluent in digital literacies in order to implement them in their classroom. Furthermore, teachers should use digital tools to only enhance student learning by creating outlets for students to develop their understanding, communicate ideas, come to solutions in ways that aren’t possible without technology (Siebert & Draper, 2017). It is the teachers role to make sure students are benefiting from the digital tools they use. Teachers can do research to find digital tools that are appropriate for their content area and incorporate them into the classroom.
Cited in this post: Siebert, D., & Draper, R. (2017). Digital mathematics literacies. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 60(5), 577-580.
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