First Blog Entry-Digital Literacy

Anna Dos Santos
Mrs. Weser
My Digital Life
Feb. 13, 2014
I abide by the Honor Code-ADS

Digital literacy is the skill of using technology efficiently, in terms of information, conversation (or communication), and understanding its importance on the everyday citizen. Throughout this week's learning session the class was asked to research the importance of digital literacy, acquire knowledge about it, and show how it impacts our lives.
Very few people know how to discern whether a website is true or false; however, digital literacy allows one to expand his/her knowledge about websites so that he/she can detect a fake website from a real one. In other words, being digitally literate entails that one can determine factual from counterfeit websites and create information by means of Internet and technology. Some examples of digital literacy include using social media accounts to post information about yourself, writing papers, creating presentations, and other routine activities on the web. Digital literacy began mainly because of plagiarism. Although many websites and articles are confidential and copyrighted, people still copy and paste, and use information as their own. Other problems include issues with social media. For example, text language has become an increasingly more problematic issue. Many people have begun abbreviating words and using numbers and letters to convey the same message quicker. "Lol" is an abbreviated term for "laugh out loud", for instance. The problem arises when this type of language begins to affect an individual's way of spelling. As a result, of all these dilemmas with technology, digital literacy was created to grant people knowledge how to navigate, and effectively as well as safely, use the internet. It is the duty of all persons to use the internet responsibly and productively. Being digitally literate will allow for people to know not to put private information on the web, use reputable sources, and educate the way people understand technology.
Although, I have acquired a plethora of information on the subject of digital literacy there is still much more that I hope to learn. Just as society has been growing. technology has been expanding as well. It is necessary for jobs and schools to now be obliged to use digital literacy in many aspects of every field. My question is: What can I do to become more safe and knowledgeable about digital literacy and the advancing technology around me? I also hope to learn how to appropriately use all of my tools on the computer, so as to receive a full understanding of utilizing what I have.
Digital literacy is an important skill set in a multiple of ways. One way that digital literacy is important in day-to-day activities is because it allows for one to use his/her technology in a smart way. By understanding the importance of privacy online, one will resist not putting private information (like cell phone numbers, home address, and other personal information). Furthermore, the more digitally literate a person is, the better he/she will be at using technology. Due to the fact that technology has become more important, becoming a better user of technology is equally as significant.
http://digitalliteracy.cornell.edu/welcome/dpl0000.html