Benefits of Digital Literacy - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages The emergence of digital information has resulted in the introduction of and adoption of digital technology, which has provided innovations such as digital computers, laptops, digital cameras, iPods, and other digital electronics that have enhanced the digital information processing, and dissemination of digital information. The computing machines distinguish and use only the two binary values of 0’s and 1’s.

Digital literacy has been adopted within higher education because of the technology change and the need for information access. Higher education includes tertiary institutions such as Colleges, Universities among others. Such institutions have a vast number of individuals who need to access more information in terms of research, and within their studying environments to complete assignments and projects. The availability of the internet and networking technologies has efficiently enabled access, distribution, and communication among individuals using digital literacy.

Benefits of digital literacy
Digital technology has led to the growth and constant adoption of digital literacy, which has promoted the following benefits. It has enabled the majority of the individuals within the higher learning institutions to have constant access to information concerning their courses, performing online assessments and assignments for their academic progress. Learning course materials have been easily uploaded on the major academic sites including the various blackboard sites for institutions for the students to easily access information, perform online assignments, and submit results for assessment. This has reduced the bulkiness of paperwork within the learning environment and reduced the time required for the completion of assignments by both the students and their lecturers.

Digital literacy has enabled individuals to make plans, chat with friends, get news concerning academics and the entire world, perform constant downloads for books, software, movies, and music from online music stores, and access online shopping through e-commerce sites and companies (Anon, 2009).
Technology has increased learner effectiveness, efficiency, engagement, and the development of positive student attitudes toward learning. There has been a change in student behavior in terms of readiness to learn, and integration of the students in the learning process of digital literacy (Underwood, 2009).

Technology use
Digital literacy technology can be adopted in classroom sessions by using computing machines (personal computers and portable laptops, iPads among others) that are connected to output devices such as projectors, which output the information. The course materials including lecture notes, assignments, and student results are uploaded on the institution’s intranet, including the e-learning blackboard site and easily downloaded for use in the classrooms with students.

In the workplace, such technology can be adopted through various forms such as uploading the information on the company’s site to be accessed only by authorized staff members. Also through conferencing, using digital cameras enables individuals far from their workplace to communicate and virtual conduct meetings with the present members at the offices within the company.

Technology implications
Digital technology is dynamically changing; presently the digital systems in use have higher processing, accessing, and storage capabilities to support digital literacy. However, because more information is being accessed and processed, future expectations are influencing the sophistication of digital equipment in terms of portability, processing speeds, and storage capacity. Mobility of the devices has made the production of more powerful devices (Swain, n.d.)

The majority of higher learning institutions of higher education will embrace digital literacy to ensure the efficiency of service delivery, and to reduce the congestion of students within institutions through the adoption of distant e-learning programs.

Conclusion
Digital literacy is a technology that allows the capabilities of accessing, processing, creating, and manipulating information using digital electronic equipment. It is a beneficial form within the higher education institutions such as colleges and universities. ...Download file to see next pages Read More