WHAT IS CYBER LITERACY?

Cyber Literacy means the ability to use computer technologies effectively and to simultaneously
understand the implications of those actions. It is also important to know where to go to find reliable and
accurate resources in cyberspace, otherwise known as cyber intelligence.

The word “literacy” alone generally refers to reading and writing skills, when you add on the word
“cyber” before it, the term encompasses much, much more. By definition, Cyber Literacy means the
ability to use computer technologies effectively and to simultaneously understand the implications of
those actions. It is also important to know where to go to find reliable and accurate resources in
cyberspace, otherwise known as cyber intelligence. The word understanding is key here, as it goes
beyond knowing how to use the technology but to have a consciousness of one’s actions.

So, what is so important about Cyber Literacy?

Actually, quite a lot. You see, just like we use money every single day and should understand those
Financial Literacy components, we need to understand the computers we use daily and use that
knowledge to protect your data, find information faster, avoid phishing and much more. Recently,
a Tenable survey showed that, although virtually all respondents had heard about data breaches, many
have failed to change their security habits. This could stem from ignorance, denial or a misunderstanding
of their role in protecting data. knowledge and practices.

WAYS ON HOW TO IMPROVE CYBER LITERACY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION

SUPPORT COMMUNITY-LEVEL DIGITAL AND MEDIA LITERACY INITIATIVES

Step 1: Map existing community resources and offer small grants.

These grants will promote community partnerships that integrate digital and media literacy competencies
into existing programs.

Step 2: Support a national network of summer learning programs.

These programs will integrate digital and media literacy into public charter schools. Universities can play
an important role in supporting summer literacy programs, she said.

Step 3: Create a Digital and Media Literacy Youth Corps. This youth corps will bring digital and media
literacy to underserved communities and special populations through public libraries, museums and other
community centers.
DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS FOR TEACHER EDUCATION

Step 4: Build interdisciplinary bridges in higher education

This bridge building will integrate core principles of digital and media literacy education into teacher
preparation programs. Educators now have the opportunity to take down some of the disciplinary silos
that interfere with effective collaboration between schools of communication and information, library
media science, and education, Hobbs said.

Interdisciplinary partnerships between those schools can support the development of pre-service teachers.

“A lot of times pre-service teachers tell me that they didn’t see their own faculty use media and
technology very much in their pre-service years," Hobbs said. "And of course that’s a challenge, because
these young teachers are coming out with lots of experience with Facebook, and lots of experience
uploading their photos to Flickr, and lots of experience with e-mail, but not very much experience seeing
how those tools are used for teaching and learning.”

Step 5: Create district level initiatives

These initiatives would support digital and media literacy across K-12 education through community and
media partnerships.

Step 6: Partner with media and technology companies

These partnerships would bring local and national news media into education programs in ways that
promote civic engagement.

RESEARCH AND ASSESS

Step 7: Develop online measures of media and digital literacy

These measures would assess learning progression and develop online video documentation of digital and
media literacy instructional strategies. That in turn will build expertise in teacher education.

We typically have contracted out to professional test services like ETS and College Board to develop
tests, she said. That's one answer to this step. And another answer is to develop a collaborative that allows
K-12 and university leaders, as well as test experts who would work together.
ENGAGE PARENTS, STAKEHOLDERS

Step 8: Start an entertainment education initiative

Tap into the creativity of the entertainment industry to raise visibility and create shared social norms of
ethical behavior in social media.

Step 9: Host a statewide, youth-produced public service announcement competition

The competition would increase visibility for digital and media literacy education.

Step 10: Support an annual conference and educator showcase competition

TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

Inexpensive tools such as flip cams and social media are terrific for improving digital and media literacy,
she said. In science class, students can document science projects. In English class, students can develop
personal essays. In history class, students can make documentaries of the French Revolution or the Civil
War.And they can share what they make through social media.

5 CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME

Though the steps outlined in the white paper ultimately would provide proper training to tomorrow's
knowledge workers, there are barriers to overcome — namely, these five:

Moving beyond a tool-oriented focus that conflates having access to media and technology with the
skillful use of it

Addressing risks associated with media and digital technology

Expanding the concept of literacy

Strengthening people's capacity to assess message credibility and quality

Using news and journalism in the context of K-12 education

A lot of school districts block social media tools, and many teachers don't feel they can communicate with
their IT specialists when they want to use the blocked tools. And in general, people are suspicious that
when kids are online, they're doing things they shouldn't. A tension exists between people who are afraid
of kids using technology and people who see the potential of the tools to empower students. Right now,
the fear-based models are winning, Hobbs said. To overcome that second challenge, administrators need
to step in and open a dialogue in the district, especially one that includes the kids.
The most important challenge, however, is the first one, she said. Simply buying technology cannot be
equated with using it well. It's what we do with the technology that matters, not the number of
whiteboards in a school building.

In the National Education Technology plan, she sees a real emphasis on technology for online learning,
personalizing learning and connecting kids with rich content. But in her paper, she shows that technology
is a tool for communicative practice and for giving kids the opportunity to use their voices to strengthen
their literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

“For that to happen, school leaders need to value student voice and appreciate it," she said, "and recognize
that part of our obligation is to prepare students to be self advocates and to participate in the business of
democracy.”

CYBER LITERACY CURRICULUM

How to Infuse Cyber/Digital Literacy Throughout the Curriculum

how are we doing on the push to teach “Cyber or digital literacy” across the K12 school
spectrum? From my perspective as a school-based technology coach and history teacher, I’d say
not as well as we might wish – in part because our traditional approach to curriculum and
instruction wants to sort everything into its place.

Cyber/Digital literacy is defined as “the ability to effectively and critically navigate, evaluate,
and create information using a range of digital technologies.” Many educational and business
professional cite is as a critical 21st century skill. Even so, many schools have struggled to adapt
it into their curriculum.

This is often because most institutions already have rigorous, established curricula with little
wiggle room – and this is especially true in schools subject to state and federal testing. Content
becomes king. However, there are ways that schools can adapt these skills into existing
structures – integrating them into their current pedagogical framework.

Evaluating online content is a research skill

Administrators often tell me they cannot meet new digital literacy requirements because they
cannot add a “Cyber/Digital literacy” course or requirement. Here’s the other way: the need for
students to “critically navigate and evaluate” online content is better viewed as an extension of
research skills. Just as we don’t teach a class called “research,” we do not need to teach
“evaluating online content” as a separate course or unit of study. We should teach research skills
in the context of existing subject matter.

Engaging online is a modern communication skill

Engaging in effective discourse and debate is a necessary skill that many of us learned in school
via class discussions, group activities, classroom debates, in class presentations, etc. Being able
to effectively communicate is a requirement to success in many facets of life (academia,
business, personal life, etc).

Students need to create. Projects become digital.

If you are familiar with the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, then you know that creation is at the
highest order of learning. Teachers recognize this; it’s why we give students various projects and
assignments: a science experiment, a research essay, a model UN debate, etc. With new
technologies, students have the ability to create dynamic, multi-media projects quickly and
easily. By combining these tools with a sophisticated topic, we can engage students in new and
creative ways.

Cyber/Digital Literacy: An everyday dimension of learning

Cyber/Digital Literacy is a crucial skill that we as educators must foster and encourage in our
classrooms (and administrators must support in the broader curriculum). I hope that these
examples have helped to demonstrate how 21st century skills do not require additional class time
or new course development. They often do require some tweaking of our established curricula.

encourage administrators to provide robust professional development and learning time for their
staff and faculty. Your teachers can integrate digital literacy into everyday learning, provided
you share the resources and support they need to shift a traditional curriculum to a more
innovative one. If you do, our students will be better digital citizens and curators of online
content; a necessary skill for success in the 21st century and a valuable contribution to civil
society.

Cyber Literacy is a hands-on curriculum that builds a strong cyber foundation for high school
students. The course introduces students to cyber by blending robotics, programming, electricity, and
elements of liberal arts. Students learn about the opportunities, threats, responsibilities, and legal
constraints associated with operating in cyberspace. Throughout the course, students learn the basics of
electricity, programming, and networking as well as develop critical thinking skills. Cyber Literacy lays a
foundation for further exploration into STEM and cyber-related topics.

Cyber Literacy Units

Electricity shows the students the fundamentals of electricity from the very basic movement of electrons
to practical and engaging experiments that include chemistry, circuitry, and magnetism concepts.
Robotics uses a Parallax® Boe-Bot® microcontroller as the platform for teaching students
robotics fundamentals. Students are introduced to basic coding essentials through flowcharts and simple
programming languages. Students then assemble their robots to perform various functions through
the implementation of sensors and application of their programming knowledge.

Liberal Arts illustrates real world applications and implications of computers and the internet in our
society today. Students are challenged to intensely deliberate the historical and societal context of cyber.

Cyber Literacy 2 is a project-driven curriculum that expands a student’s understanding of cyberspace

through two primary topics: systems engineering and liberal arts. The Cyber Literacy 2 course builds
upon fundamental cyber skills developed in Cyber Literacy and challenges students to go deeper into the
world of cyberspace. Students will utilize a microcontroller to construct complex systems that bring
together a variety of components on each build and also will realize the significant real world connections
as they discuss the liberal arts/ humanities crossovers that exist with today’s technologies. Many aspects
of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics are discussed throughout each of the projects.
Similarly, students are challenged to create flow-charts with each build as well as tossing out the wiring
diagram in favor of reading schematics.

Cyber Literacy 2 Units

Systems Engineering uses the Parallax Boe-Bot microcontroller as the platform for students to build a
variety of multi-component projects, such as: a binary counter; a 4-pushbutton, hackable vault; an infrared
remote-controlled Boe-Bot; a planetoid rover; and a minesweeper. Flow charts are used throughout to
discuss data flow and even to touch upon pseudo-code, a programming design method of describing a
simplified program, before writing the code.

Liberal Arts will present discussions that dive deep into many critical aspects of our students’ futures,
such as: the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution, where students make connections to privacy, security,
and technology; search warrants, digital media, and the requirements to obtain a search warrant; and, they
will touch on cyber bullying and real world examples of the implications of cyber bullying. Students will
participate in debates on national security and will complete a literary analysis of a fictional novel. Cyber
Literacy II gives teachers the opportunity to collaborate with their school partners as they introduce
relevant content that will support ELA instruction.
DIGITAL LITERACY

Digital literacy involves any number of digital reading and writing techniques across multiple
media forms. These media include words, texts, visual displays, motion graphics, audio, video, and
multimodal forms. There are myriad cognitive processes at play, along a continuum from consumption to
production when a reader is immersed with digital content as well as with print text.

Digital Literacy is about being able to make sense of digital media. This occurs through
meaningful and sustainable consumption and curation patterns that improve an individuals potential to
contribute to an authentic community. This includes the ability to analyze, prioritize, and act upon the
countless digital media 21st century citizens encounter on a daily basis.

4 Principles Of Digital Literacy

1. Comprehension

The first principle of digital literacy is simply comprehension–the ability to extract implicit and explicit
ideas from a media.

2. Interdependence

The second principle of digital literacy is interdependence–how one media form connects with another,
whether potentially, metaphorically, ideally, or literally. Little media is created with the purpose of
isolation, and publishing is easier than ever before. Due to the sheer abundance of media, it is necessary
that media forms not simply co-exist, but supplement one another.

3. Social Factors

Sharing is no longer just a method of personal identity or distribution, but rather can create messages of
its own. Who shares what to whom through what channels can not only determine the long-term success
of the media, but can create organic ecosystems of sourcing, sharing, storing, and ultimately repackaging
media.

4. Curation

Speaking of storing, overt storage of favored content through platforms such as pinterest,
pearltrees, pocket and others is one method of “save to read later.” But more subtly, when a video is
collected in a YouTube channel, a poem ends up in a blog post, or an infographic is pinned to pinterest or
stored on a learnist board, that is also a kind of literacy as well–the ability to understand the value of
information, and keep it in a way that makes it accessible and useful long-term.

7 Tips To Promote Digital Literacy In eLearning

1. Encourage Self-Exploration
Digital literacy cannot be taught through traditional means. Online learners should be able to explore the
digital resources on their own, which emphasizes the real-world applications of this vital skill. For
example, an online learner must use online tools to solve a common problem. Therefore, they discover the
benefits of online training tutorials, articles, and other informative online training resources firsthand,
instead of reading about the advantages of honing their IT skills.

2. Create An Online Resource Guide

Formal online training in digital literacy can help online learners differentiate between fact and fiction,
especially in regards to online resources that may contain inaccurate information or opinion-based
content. This also encourages them to carefully evaluate information by checking numerous online
sources before they commit the ideas to memory. It's a good idea to develop an online resource guide that
features trustworthy online tools, such as eLearning videos or virtual guides that you've already reviewed.
You can also invite online learners to submit their own links for the benefit of their peers.

3. Set Some Ground Rules

Online learners need to be aware of how to use the online tools effectively. This also involves Internet
netiquette. For example, they use social media to broaden their understanding and interact with peers.
Thus, they must respect the opinions of others and follow the same rules as face-to-face communications,
such as honoring different viewpoints and staying on topic.

4. Evaluate Your Current eLearning Strategy

Review the eLearning strategies that are already in place and determine how you can interject learning
technologies. For example, inviting online learners to your eLearning forum to continue the online
discussion after an in-class lecture. You can use LMS metrics, online surveys, and eLearning
assessments to find the best fit for IT in your eLearning curriculum. This allows you to bridge
knowledge and skill gaps with the help of online resources. In the process, online learners build their
digital literacy and tech skills in a real-world context.

5. Include Digital Literacy Simulations

eLearning simulations facilitate real-world experience in a risk-free setting. Online learners are able to
test out new technologies and familiarize themselves with the LMS platform. You can also assign each
online learner with a problem they must solve using online tools. For example, they need to create a
timeline about a historical trend. Online learners must use online articles, eLearning videos, and other
Internet resources to find the information they require and then summarize the key points. This also helps
to improve knowledge retention and active recall.

6. Encourage Learner-Generated eLearning Content

Digital literacy can enhance online learners' performance, support and motivation, especially when they
are encouraged to showcase their work. Ask online learners to create their own eLearning blogs or
virtual presentations based on the subject matter. They must use their pre-existing knowledge and
newfound tech skills to develop learner-generated eLearning content. This offers a secondary benefit,
since using multimedia also enforces the need to respect the use of images. For example, they may need
to pay royalties or find royalty-free options. As such, they become familiar with intellectual rights and
copyright laws that govern online resources.

7. Host A Live Event

Live events give online learners the opportunity to use a variety of online tools, such as web browsers,
video conferencing software, and social media sites. They are also able to interact with their peers and
online instructors remotely. Send participants a webinar agenda in advance so that they can prepare
questions and comments, as well as study up on the subject beforehand. Create a hashtag for the event to
take care of the social media component and include links to supplemental online resources that online
learners may find helpful. For example, online video tutorials or guides that explore the compliance topics
you'll cover during the event.

Certain online learners may know more about technology than their online instructors, while others are
new to the world of IT. Pre-assess your online learners to discover how much they already know and
their tech comfort level. This allows you to create personalized eLearning experiences that meet their
needs and build digital literacy.

DIGITAL LITERACY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LIFELONG LEARNING TOOL

With the increased importance of technology in society, digital literacy is gaining recognition as the most
valuable tool for lifelong learning. What does this mean? Essentially, as citizens of a global society, the
influence of social media, technology, and online resources is massive. For children, the access to a home
computer with internet increases their likelihood of college attendance exponentially. For adults, the ever
evolving tech world can either help them succeed or hold them back.

Society has changed over the last 15 years. It has become increasingly important to continue education
after entering the workforce. The influence of technology on business is the main reason for this new
mandate. In early learning through adulthood, digital literacy is showing the most promise for success.
The edtech industry has long-focused on the value of digital competency for children. It’s time digital
literacy was incorporated into adult education in the same way, but with a few adjustments.

Principal Ideas

The foundation of digital literacy has four factors. Technological skills and access, authorship rules,
representation rules, and online social responsibility. For students and employees to interact responsibly
in a digital society, it’s imperative to understand all four parts of the puzzle.

The core competencies of using computers, navigating the internet, and having access to broadband
internet are essential to success. In today’s schools, students who utilize online research and display
computer skills are more likely to graduate. Additionally, organizations
like DigitalLiteracy.gov emphasize the importance of harnessing technology to find work and advance
in your career.

Authorship understanding is becoming increasingly essential every day. Individuals can create and
share content seamlessly in the digital age. This ability allows global citizens to interact and bond
together for common goals. It also means that discerning authentic content is becoming harder to do.
Those with good digital literacy skills will have the advantage of sharing ideas efficiently and
knowledgeably filtering content.

Related to authorship is the issue of digital representation. Knowing how to decide what content is
authentic and what isn’t is essential for every citizen. Understanding how to use resources
like Politifact and Snopes will help individuals navigate representation issues more soundly.

To use technology and the internet in your life, it’s imperative to understand all the tenants of digital
literacy. Lastly, and possibly most important, is digital ethics or online social responsibility. Digital
ethics is the discernment of what is appropriate to say, do and share. It also includes observance of
copyright laws and privacy.

Digital Citizenship

To fully embrace digital literacy, individuals must also learn digital citizenship. The tenants of this idea
are much more sophisticated than those of literacy. However, they guide behavior online, safety practices
and research rules. Comprehension of the nine elements of digital citizenship will make technology
safer and more helpful for children and adults, alike.

Understanding the Stats

In a 2013 report by the New York City Comptroller’s Office, the educational achievement of homes
without broadband access was disproportionately poor. 42% of disconnected households attained less
than high school graduation, and only 5% earned a Bachelor’s degree. Similar educational deficiencies
were noted in a 2011 Microsoft infographic. The infographic suggested that 77% of jobs will require
digital competency by 2020. Additionally, it recorded a 6% greater high school graduation rate for
students with home access to technology.

Does the research suggest that mere access to internet and technology will improve educational and career
performance? Not exactly. There are other important factors to success. Students need to be digitally
literate which includes an understanding of digital citizenship rules.

The ability to use technology isn’t enough to advance individuals. Technology use comes with many
possible hurdles which can present themselves to halt progress. Things like improper research practices
can hurt student performance. Additionally, unsafe internet practices and inappropriate online activity can
harm employees. To avoid these common missteps, people need proper education on digital citizenship
and literacy.

Lifelong Learning
From pre-k through adult life, technology is ingratiated in daily living. According to the International
Guidelines on Information Literacy, technological education should start early. However, the report
also states that teaching and improvement should continue throughout life to support personal and career
growth. The European Commission Joint Research Center agrees. The commission suggests that
digital literacy is essential to school success and later lifelong improvement.

Embracing technology and digital literacy is a key factor to encourage learning from infancy through
adulthood. The impact of technology on learning has roots in the science of how we learn. As such, it
has long been important to encourage academic advancement. However, the development of a global
society has made involvement mandatory for successful individuals from all walks of life.

References

https://securityintelligence.com/how-to-improve-cyber-literacy-within-your-organization/

https://www.cybintsolutions.com/what-is-cyber-literacy-why-important/

[1] Gilster, Paul (1997), Digital Literacy, Wiley: New York.

Cyber Literacy: A Plan of Action