Digital literacy is essential for preparing students for a better tomorrow, connect and collaborate to explore a wide range of opportunities. At Khaitan Public School- one of the top 10 CBSE schools in Ghaziabad, we are taking every aspect of digital literacy quite seriously!
We all know the digital world brings with it numerous benefits while providing everyone a common platform to connect, learn and drive innovation and creativity. With technology entering into our day-to-day life, digital literacy skills to live, work, and thrive in a digital society have become the need of the hour! Let’s first understand what digital literacy is?
What Is Digital Literacy?
The term ‘digital literacy’ doesn’t only mean IT proficiency (though it requires you to know how to use technology for your benefit and getting the work done). But before we know what it is, let’s be aware of a startling fact!
Do You Know More Than 11 Million People In The UK Lack Basic Digital Skills?
This comes from the finding of Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index, 2017. So, coming back to the definition of the digital literacy now! It’s certainly different from computer literacy as it requires critical thinking skills and also the knowledge of desired behavior expected to conduct oneself in an online environment. This also requires thorough understanding of common social issues, which have occurred due to the use of digital technologies.
So, is it safe to assume that digital literacy = digital tool knowledge + critical thinking + social engagement! Sounds interesting? Let’s explore the concept of digital literacy further! Let’s find about why there is a need to have digital literacy in the classroom.
Well, at KPS– the best private schools in Ghaziabad, digital literacy is essential to become digital citizens: this means our pupils emerge as well-informed and responsible individuals who know how to use digital technology to interact with the world around them while doing that safely and reaping all its benefits.
Promoting Deep Learning And Digital Literacy In Students
Deep learning embeds various core skills, which include collaboration, creativity, crucial thinking, character and communication. At KPS, following all these core skills help us inculcate deep thinking by asking the right questions that help the students generate new ideas or thought process. We also work on developing various traits such as drive to succeed and resilience, which helps them live a better life.
In fact, the concept of deep learning is not new to us. Over the past many centuries, several political and societal changes have infused deep learning in our educational institutes with the aim to help students nurture deep understanding and knowledge.
How E-safety Is The Key Focus Of Digital Literacy?
When on digital platform, students are exposed to criminals and tormentors too! During sensitive times of lockdown and isolation, it has become all the more important to know that digital world brings with it an incessant exposure to various risks. In fact, children are prone to fall prey to such planned attempts by people with malicious intentions. This can also result in several mental health issues and can leave pupils open to misinformation, exploitation, and false propaganda.
Also Read: Teens And Cybercrime/Cyber Bullying – How Teachers Can Help?
How KPS Promotes Digital Literacy?
At KPS, we have included digital literacy into our curriculum so that children are learning the right thing at right time through right means! We cover issues related to their safety, learning, deep and crucial thinking so that they emerge as well-informed digital citizens who know how to use technology to their benefit. We have trained faculties who provide them with creative thinking assignments and guide them too.
We know that technology is here to stay but the only requirement that we currently have is using this for improving teaching and learning behavior. The idea is to help them develop a critical thinking pattern that becomes ingrained in their personality. They feel free and responsible at the same time and also encourage the younger children to think and act rationally. Using blogging during English classes is an advanced form of digital literacy, which can help students to develop and reflect their critical thinking process. This also helps them improve their English writing skills. We will cover more about blogging and how we teach it to our pupils very soon. Until then, stay tuned!
