4.4.4 BRINGING DIGITAL LITERACY TO THE CLASSROOM:Visual presentation

 Whether you are new to computing or have some experience, Digital Literacy will help you develop a fundamental understanding of computers. The courses help you learn the essential skills to begin computing with confidence, be more productive at home and at work, stay safe online, use technology to complement your lifestyle, and consider careers where you can put your skills to work.

The ability to locate, organizes, understand, evaluate, and analyze information using digital technology. It involves a working knowledge of current high-technology, and an understanding of how it can be used. Digitally literate people can communicate and work more efficiently, especially with those who possess the same knowledge and skills.
Research around digital literacy is concerned with wider aspects associated with learning how to effectively find, use, summarize, evaluate, create, and communicate information while using digital technologies, not just being literate at using a computer.
Digital literacy encompasses computer hardware, software (particularly those used most frequently by businesses), the Internet, cell phones, PDAs, and other digital devices. A person using these skills to interact with society may be called a digital citizen.
If students are “glued” 24/7 to their mobile devices, why is it necessary for schools to teach digital literacy? Who should teach it? And wait … what does it even mean to be “digitally literate”?
 Many educators struggle to understand their evolving role in teaching and using technology in their classrooms. Most importantly, many of us wrestle with how technology is shifting the way kids learn  digital literacy can be definrd as “having the knowledge and ability to use a range of technology tools for varied purposes.” Digitally literate people are those who “can use technology strategically to find and evaluate information, connect and collaborate with others, produce and share original content, and use the Internet and technology tools to achiBringing Digital Literacy to the Classroom.
My journey to embedding digital literacy in my classroom has been one of small steps, starts and stops, and lessons learned. I am passionate about helping my students understand powerful and trans formative learning, but I am also hesitant to introduce a new tool or device before understanding how it will enhance learning.
Here are some ways I’ve incorporated technology to help my students understand their devices and the importance of digital literacy:
Search Literacy

• I've used Google A Day challenges to teach my students advanced search strategies. I’ve also printed out infographic to remind students of the various strategies available when searching online.
• In my freshman research unit, students are required to evaluate digital resources for bias. To demonstrate their understanding of different types of bias, they collaboratively create a classroom presentation.
• To promote visual literacy and critical reading, I ask my students to read this article about debunking fake images online and watch this TED Talk: “How to Separate Fact from Fiction Online.” We then discuss strategies for evaluating information online before using it in our   own writing.

Using Digital Tools

• I ask students to evaluate this info graphic on note-taking strategies, practice using various tools, and reflect on which strategies they believe work best for them.
• To create powerful presentations using digital platforms, I ask students to watch funny video clips about PowerPoint fails and view  how to avoid “Death by PowerPoint.” We also discuss strategies for using visual images and text to impact an audience.
• Students in my Media Studies class analyzed their own demographics and associated stereotypes to understand targeted advertising and subconscious biases. To demonstrate their analysis, they they created a mindmap  using digital tools.

Social Media For Learning
As a prolific social media user, I’ve been thinking for more than a year about how to use social       media tools with students to expand their learning opportunities. Below is my visual image about digital literacy;
below is my visual presentation;