The Expansion of Literacy in 2024

 Today, there is more than just reading, writing and arithmetic literacy. The scope has expanded to encompass a newer term, digital literacy. The American Library Association (ALA) defines digital literacy as “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.” We are use to concepts such as the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) that we use to teach children at a young age how to take care and be responsible to protect our planet, but what if we made a second set of 3 R's pertaining to how to responsible online? The social media 3 R's could perhaps include "Research, Responsibility and Respect."

By teaching children to research for themselves and become their own "fact checkers" we can help educate them as to how to be a responsible digital citizen, that everything on the internet may not be accurate, and where to find additional resources and communities online in a safe way. Showing them how to be responsible online reminds me of the quote from John Wooden “The true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching”. Adults tend to feel more comfortable sharing online and in chats when they aren't face to face with someone. This can also be said for children and teens using the internet. By teaching the next generation that it is part of their responsibility, if they choose to use social media, to help create a positive online experience for themselves and their peers. Cyber bullying will not go away on it's own but by having open discussions, we can connect with the children in our lives that even online we should treat others as we would like to be treated. Creating a level of respect when pursuing online activities.

Photo Credit: artvea / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images

Children and teens today have digital and media needs: 1) They need knowledge and guidance in using digital and media effectively, 2) They need to know how to evaluate the multitude of digital and media messages they receive, and 3) They need the integrity and ethical center to be good citizens in their use of digital and media. While media literacy is a relatively "new" concept, there have been connections to how what form of media a message is displayed in can impact how it is interpreted and received by its user. In 1964 communication theorist, Marshall McLuhan proposed, "that a communication medium itself, not the messages it carries, should be the primary focus [...]. He showed that artifacts such as media affect any society by their characteristics, or content." When comparing movies, radio and print messaging, McLuhan argued that the way these mediums played with conceptions of speed and time transformed "the world of sequence and connections into the world of creative configuration and structure". Think back to the pandemic in 2020 and when many of us had to transition to online classrooms and work environments. This modality of working virtually affected us in many ways including impacts on mental health, student school satisfaction, and work performance. Even though the "work" was still the same, how we interpreted and computed these messages varied from when they were in person interactions.

Later in 2011, educator, author, and media literacy advocate, Renee Hobbs, published a book titled, Digital and Media Literacy: Connecting Culture and Classroom. In this book she identifies five communication competencies to help support educators in teaching digital and media literacy in their classrooms. These competencies are Access, Analyze, Create, Reflect, and Act. 

1. Access involves "finding and sharing appropriate and relevant information using media texts and technology tools."
2. Analyze involves "using critical thing to analyze message purpose, target audience, quality, veracity, credibility, point of view, and potential effects of consequences of messages."
3. Create involves "composing or generating content using creativity and confidence in self-expression, with awareness of purpose, audience and composition techniques into the world of digital and media" competencies.
4. Reflect involves "applying social responsibility and ethical principles to our own identity, communication behavior, and conduct."
5. Act involves "working individually or collaboratively to share knowledge and solve problems in the family, the workplace, and the community."

While both McLuhan and Hobbs information is older, their message stays the same. It is up to us to educate the children in our lives on how to accurately use the internet and all of its bells and whistles such as social media. Many schools and libraries have computer and technology guidelines for their users, but many tend to focus on what the user cannot do rather than providing resources on what they user should do when using public/school computers and technologies. Leading me to one last set of questions for reflection, is it important for public services workers such as teachers and library workers to teach these competencies to children? If so, do we also help to educate parents on how to have open discussions with their children on these topics? 

Book Resource List:

Picture Books For Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy Conversations and Learning Padlet by Shannon McClintock Miller, et all.