Topic 1- Digital Literacy

" Digital literacy is more than technological know-how: it includes a wide variety of ethical, social and reflective practices that are embedded in work, learning, leisure and daily life". - According to Media Smarts - http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/digital-literacy-fundamentals

The topic of digital Literacy is so multi- faceted it could be seen as a tool to stay connected a means of evaluating information and perhaps the way to engage and entice future generations in terms of academic involvement. According to an article by Social Media Today ( Huthinson , A 2018) at the beginning of this year Teenagers spend up to Nine hours a day on Social Media. As educator this seems that we have to adapt in terms of what we offer students. The digital age is real. How will I present myself is one of the main questions I struggle with? Where do you draw the line in terms of Private and Institutional and this ONL8 week has put the issue in perspective. It seems we have to find a balance. Plenty of tools have become available that could be very valuable to all professionals but especially to lectures in higher education. Some are already used in practice and should be optimized to receive full value. Blackboard tools used at Varsity College is so flexible and should be used to bridge more gaps in my course offerings. Good Suggestions where made by my group members about creating forums and getting students to engage and help each others as well.

We live in an era where the technology we own is likely not achieving full potential because of the "user interface" or the "operator" aka ourselves. This is evident when we look at options available and tools to use. Sometime the tools we own could be used to solve our problems or enhance are productivity effective and experience but because of either Tech phobia or being ill informed we miss the gap. In education unfortunately our students grew up with technology the have been using Smartphones and Tablets since leaving the womb.

That is the personal challenge. Staying abreast of what is out there knowing how to engage with what audience. In saying this also knowing how to distinguish between Real and Fake and to use only credible sources and equip others to do the same.

My Digital involvement stated below :

References

Media Smarts. 2018. Digital Literacy Fundamentals, available at http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/digital-literacy-fundamentals

Hutchinson, A. 2018. 15 Presentation Design Statistics for 2019 Social Media Today. 5 October 2018 [Blog] Available at https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/15-presentation-design-statistics-for-2019-infographic/538944/