Digital Fluency

Auditory Summation: Topic 6, Digital Fluency

Provided below is the link to the Voki presentation on week 6 topic; Digital Fluency

http://www.voki.com/presenter/playPresentation.php?id=f78cf3c629f3e4cfd33f402a3095075e 

Also for your viewing, click on the youtube film below

Following is the script to my Voki

What is the difference between ‘digital literacy’ and ‘digital fluency’?

The 21^st century is globally connected.  Digital media and the internet have changed the way people learn and interact. The internet has become a global phenomenon. As Howell (2012) mentions, the internet is one of the first places people go to find information.

Someone who is capable of knowing how and what to do with digital technologies can be described as being digitally literate. Digital fluency on the other hand is so much more than knowing how different programs work and knowing what to do with them. Digital fluency refers to knowing when to use these tools and why, in order to reach a desired outcome (Core Education, 2016).

A student is considered fluent in a Language when they learn to read, speak and write it. This is similar to a digital fluency. It is where an individual is able to show an ability to navigate a variety of devices, programs and apps, with ease and understanding.

Increasing our fluency

Increasing our fluency with technologies allows us to keep safe online and increases life’s opportunities, such as managing finances, applying for work and being part of the local community (Core Education, 2016).

Many students as Prensky (2001) describes, are digital Natives; born into a digital world. Today’s students have access to the world via the internet, so it is critical for them to acquire the skills needed to understand where information they obtain is coming from; ensuring they are becoming practical researchers.

Digital Fluency in Education

There is no doubt that students today are coming to school with a basic knowledge, and the ability to use a wide variety of technology. Although students have developed some idea on how to use these technologies, they still require guidance on how to become fluent in their uses. Students need to be able to produce content rather than just simply using technology.

Developing a level of Digital fluency at an early stage of schooling ensures students have the ability to handle the skills required for their secondary and post formal schooling (Howell, 2012). Constant use of technologies and creating challenges in the classroom will help to develop a student’s digital fluency.  Supporting this development assist in preparing them to become digital learners, with an ability to construct new tools, communicate ideas and solve problems.

List of References

Core Education. (2016). What is digital fluency. Retrieved from
http://blog.core-ed.org/blog/2015/10/what-is-digital-fluency.html

El subscribo.(2015, May 3). Marco Torres discusses digital fluency [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly4gReQJtg0

Howell, J. (2012). Teaching with ICT: Digital Fluency. South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. MCB university press. Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

Resnick, M. (2002). Rethinking learning in the digital age. In G. Kirkman (Ed.), The global information technology report: Readiness for the networked word. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

 

Digital Identities and Digital Securities

Written Summation: Topic 2, Digital Identities and Digital Securities

Digital Identity & Security

As digital technologies enhance our lives in many ways, we must ensure we have the ability to maintain our privacy and security.

Every piece of information you post or have posted online contributes to your digital identity, also referred to as your digital footprint. You no longer have control of that information. It can be share, copied, and used by others.  It is not only the personal information you share like your name, address, date of birth but also includes things like the websites you have visited, the accounts you have created and even the shopping you have done online. Howell (2014) puts these behaviours into two aspects of digital security; information you are either pushing out or information you are receiving.  All this information makes up your digital footprint. Pernille Tranberg talks about how we are polluting with personal data, which is being collected, stored and resold (TEDxOxford, 2013).

“PERSONAL DATA IS THE ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE DIGITAL WORLD”

(Tranberg. 2013, April 10. Fake it – to control your digital identity)

Image “The big deal with big data” ( Binary Tattoo, 2015)

Digital identity, according to Binary Tattoo (2015) is a permanent collection of data; it is an online representation of who you are. If you are not controlling your digital footprint then others can or will. In order to prevent unwanted use of personal information, digital security is essential. This includes things like using privacy enhancing tools or passwords.

It is imperative to take control of your own personal data. As Pernille Tranberg states, we should be trying to “control who knows what about us when” (Fake it-to control your digital identity, 2013).

Why teach students about Digital Identity and Digital Security?

Digital Technologies are powerful tools used within education. This is necessary as they are changing the jobs people do (Howell, 2012). In saying this, it is essential that students are well educated on the responsible use of these technologies.  Doing so will ensure students have an awareness that everything they do online will represent who they are and have an positive or negative  influence on their future. For example, when the identity they have created online is viewed by a potential employer.

Image “How can we manage our digital footprint” (Virtual Library, n.d)

We have the ability to manage our own digital footprint in order to create a positive one, by thinking before we post, before we add details or enter a website. How will this impact me further down the track? Teaching students to understand and discuss online behaviour will ensure students are set up for success now and in the future while engaging responsibility with digital technology.

Image “Creating a positive digital footprint” (Virtual Library, n.d)

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that you’ll do things differently”

(Warren Buffet, 2015.  Binary tattoo)

In the following video, Michelle Clark talks about the effects and impact which our digital footprint has on us.

(TedxHollywood, 2014)

Below is a video which outlines four reasons why we should care about our digital footprint.

(InternetSocietyVideo, 2016)

List of References

Binary Tattoo. 2015. Define your digital identity. Retrieved from
www.binarytattoo.com

Binary Tattoo. 2015. The big deal with big data. Retrieved from
http://www.binarytattoo.com/the-big-deal-with-big-data/

Howell, J. (2014, February 27). Living and learning in the digital world mod 01 04 topic 03 [ilecture]. Retreived from https://echo.ilecture.curtin.edu.au:8443/ess/echo/presentation/1636447f-aa10-42de-bec3-f6fe6f44932e

Howell, J. (2012). Teaching with ICT. South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.

InternetSocietyVideo. (2016, January 12). Four reasons to care about your digital footprint [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro_LlRg8rGg

Michelle Clake [TEDxHollywood]. (2014, July 24). Digital footprints [Video file]. Retrieved from   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlGyTp4Nd4M

 

Pernille Tranberg [TEDxOxford]. (2013, April 10). Fake it – to control your digital identity [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRrgD-4-D8s \

Virtual Library. (n.d). Digital footprint. Retrieved from http://www.virtuallibrary.info/digital-footprint.html

What is a Digital World?

Visual Summation:

Topic 1

What is a Digital World?

Click on the Prezi link provided below to view the Presentation on Week 1, Topic 1: What is a digital world?

http://prezi.com/cy_xccsufa35/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

References are included at the end of the Prezi.

Final Reflection

I have found it to be a disadvantage not working within an educational system, and trying to understand the impact of the digital world on education. However, undertaking this unit and assessment has helped me to develop a greater understanding of the importance that digital technologies has for education, as it has changed the way we learn.

To create my three summations, I was introduced to a wide variety of resources such as WordPress, Prezi and Voki. This has encouraged me to explore and experience first-hand some of the different digital technologies which could be used within a classroom setting.

Prior to this assessment I have had little to no experience with blogging, therefore did not see the relevance it could have towards education. I have since realised the possible educational benefits, such as improving ICT skills, providing opportunities to discuss cyber safety issues daily, as well as demonstrating responsible online behaviour. These educational outcomes are necessary in our digital world.
The visual and auditory technologies I used; Prezi and Voki, proved to be valuable tools to use in order to have a more engaging way of presenting information to students.
As mentioned by Ribble (2011), students are always after new ways of learning, and in order to meet this demand educators should be exploring alternative ways to present information with the purpose of keeping students well engaged (p.27).

To make the most of digital technologies, we must first understand the roles they have on teaching and learning. Rather than just being “open to new technologies”, as a future educator it is necessary to gain a proper knowledge and understanding of new technologies in order to create meaningful context for education (Howell, 2012, p.9).

All students should be provided with an equal opportunity to succeed. It is our role as educators to ensure this is possible by doing our best to engage them in learning; using digital technologies.

List of References

Ribble, M. (2011). Digital Citizenship in schools second edition: Nine elements of digital citizenship. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/docs/excerpts/digci2-excerpt.pdf

Howell, J. (2012). Teaching with ICT: How do we develop a digital pedagogy. South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.