Digital Literacy Skills of 21st Century

21st Century skills are so much more than being digitally literate. It should be infused into core curriculum in all classrooms throughout the school. Teachers should promote, support and model creative and innovative thinking technology-enriched environments.

Students are wired to learn digitally. They come to school with handhelds practically attached to their limbs. Educators'

obligation is to teach them to become responsible digital citizens in our globally collaborative world.

What is Digital Literacy?

Digital literacy  is the ability to navigate various digital platforms amd understand, assess and communicate through them. The term 'digital literacy' was coined by Paul Gilster in 1997 and it came from the discussion of concepts on visual literacy, technological literacy, computer literacy and information literacy.

Here are literacies a 21st century student should have:

Information literacy is the functional skill. It is locating information from web and interpreting while evaluating its validity in order for it to be shared. An information literate understands facts especially data points that he'll encounter online. More importantly, he/she knows how to separate facts from fictions. 

Media Literacy is the practice of identifying publishing methods, outlets and sources while distinguishing between the ones that are credible and not. A media literate has the ability to critically read information or content and utilize multimedia in creatively producing communication.

Technology literate people know how to select and use digital devices, applications or services effectively. They know and understand the use of every technologies and machines available.

What are the 21st century skills?

To perform well in this century, you need to develop and enhance the 21st century Skills or known as the Four C's. All of these 21st century skills are important for every students to do better in school and succeed in the workplace.

Creativity requires students to think outside the box and to take pride of what is uniquely theirs. This skill empowers students to see concepts in a different light, which leads to innovation. Creativity encourages students to think beyond the expectations of conventions. 

          

Critical thinking is finding solutions to problems. It teaches students not to accept immediately claims without clarifying the truth. It is the ability to distinguish facts from opinions and know what ought to be learned and accepted.

Collaboration lets students to work together, achieve compromises, and get the best possible results from solving a problem. It happens when students know how to work well with others to accomplish a given task. When students are made to work with others they are given the chance to practice how to relate with others.

Communication makes students express their ideas in the clearest and organized manner. Through varied modes - face-to-face, technologically mediated or a blended medium. They need to know how to efficiently and clearly convey ideas.

How to be a Digital Literate?

Lynch (2017) identified eight digital literacy skills needed to become digitally literate.

1. Coding

- coding is a universal language. Basic  understanding of HTML, CSS and the like will create a shared  understanding of what can be done with the web pages.

2. Collaboration

- the use of Google Docs among others allow students to begin experimenting with effective online collaboration.

3. Cloud software

- This is essential part of document management. The cloud is used to store everything from photos to research projects to term papers even music.

4. Word Processing software

 - Google, Microsoft Online, Office, Drop Box are available for storage and management solutions.

5. Screencasting

 - a screencast is a video recording using the computer screen and usually includes an audio. 

6. Personal Archiving

 - students should be taught there concepts of metadata, tagging, keywords and categories to make them aware how they are represented online.

7. Use of social media

 - social media serves different purposes depending on the user, the technology and the need.

8. Information Evaluation

References: https://www.aeseducation.com/career-readiness/what-are-21st-century-skills
study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-digital-literacy-definition-example.html

The Hidden Side of Me

Assalamu alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakato!
Hi. I am Tasnimah, 21 years of age. I grew up at the municipality of Marantao located at the province of Lanao del Sur. I amcurrently studying BS Education major in Biology at Mindanao State University -Main Campus which is situated at Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Philippines.
I love reading, when it comes to non-fiction I chose to read books, newsletters and magazines since these are reliable rather e-books and articles in the internet. But when it comes to fictions, I prefer reading through smartphone like stories in Wattpad. My favorite genres are mystery, science fiction, humor and fantasy. I usually read stories that use First Point of View. I don’t like reading stories that use Third POV or Omniscient POV. One of my favorite authors in Watty is KIB, he wrote the “Hell University” which is a science fiction and mystery. The first time I’ve encountered the genetic cloning and genetic engineering is in this story. When I chose story I always check the grammars first and then the organization of the story, the punctuations and capitalization since these are basic things for an author to know, right? So, if the story is poor with regards to these four that means the author is an amateur or the story isn’t great.
As much as I love reading, I don’t like writing since I can’t organize my thoughts immediately. I’ve tried writing stories a few times but I only wrote the introduction or prologue and it even took me 2-3 days just to write it. It’s because I always revise it, so I gave up.
I also love baking and cooking. Since I was young, I always watch my Mom when she’s cooking. I started learning to cook simple dishes when I was 10. As I grew up, I learn the recipes of my Mom (She’s a great cook!). Since we have a small bakeshop I also learned baking. I have baked just ordinary foods like cookies, chocolate cake, jelly roll, macaroons, and other sweets. There is still a lot of food I wanted to bake but recently I don’t have much time for baking. I love baking and cooking because it makes me feel great seeing my family and friends eating and enjoying the food I made.
I am a very timid and shy person. I don’t approach people first unless needed. People who don’t know me might say that I am not friendly. I actually have been to three colleges in the university but I haven’t made many friends, I usually hang out with my high school friends. In my first two years in my present college, I never had a friend from the classes I had, I don’t know anyone in my college. I talk to my classmates at class and it’s all about academics. I am not being choosy of friends, I just don’t feel comfortable yet to open up to people I met for a short period of time. Alhamdulillah, last year I have made good friends from the college but I know that there are still boundaries for that friendship.

I am an indecisive person but thankfully I was born as a Muslima, so I always believe in the Qadrullah. When I couldn’t decide how to finalize my decision, I leave it to Allah for His plans are better than mine and He knows what’s ahead of me. Duaa is the only solutions for any problems I face everyday.