CHAPTER 1

Digital Life
 Learning Objectives
v To understand the benefits of being able to use the internet
v To understand the basic digital skills for everyday life
v To understand how social networking can be useful to everyday life.
Why is ‘Digital’ such a big deal?
v The world is connected in such a way that news is available at our fingertips as
it happens.
v ‘Everyday activities such as shopping, using a telephone and banking
increasingly require interaction with technology’.
v At work, many routine processes are being automated.
v Many universities around the world offer online course.
v Small, Medium and Large businesses around the world implement digital
commerce and digital marketing to increase their revenue.
 The importance of being digital
On an individual level
v Gaining digital skills can reduce isolation, increase career prospects
and enable people to access health information.

On an Organization level
v Becoming more digital is likely to increase visibility, efficiency
and competitiveness.

On a Society level
v Being digitally confident empowers people to make their voices heard
on issues of importance to them.
v Digital skills are also highly important when it comes to studying.

It is important to be able to judge who and what you can trust, understand the essentials
of ethical behaviour online and communicate well with others.
 Being ‘digital’ is about using technology to achieve your goals, whether
those are related to work, everyday life or study. It involves thinking critically
and making the decisions that are right for you and your life.
 The fundamental skills for everyday life
Communicating, interacting, collaborating,
sharing and connecting with others.
Using email, instant messaging or social media.
Solving problems and finding solutions
using digital tools.
Teaching yourself simple tasks using tutorials,
or using feedback from other internet users to
solve common problems.
Finding, managing and storing digital
information and content.
Using a search engine to find information
Buying and selling goods and services,
organising your finances and using
digital government services.
Ordering shopping online, managing
a bank account or booking travel.
Creating basic digital content in order to engage
with digital communities and organisations.
Creating a social media post, creating a text
document such as a CV, creating and sharing
a photo album or creating and sharing
feedback about products and services.
Everyday transactions
v Many transactions can now be done online.
v For example, ordering your shopping or booking your travel.
v Being able to manage digital information will help you to find what you need
quickly, and locate it again easily.
 Using social media
Social media is an important tool for communicating and creating (and sharing what
you have created), and will be the focus of the next activity. If you are new to the
world of social networking, you might wonder why you should get involved with it.
The following activity gives you a chance to explore some of the benefits.

Communication is one of the most important digital skills. In everyday life it can include:
v Keeping in touch using email, instant messaging, video calls and social media
v Posting on forums to connect with communities
v Communicating with organisations about their products and services.
 Problem-solving
Online resources and networks can be very useful when it
comes to solving everyday conundrums. This includes:
v Teaching yourself simple tasks using video tutorials
v Using feedback from other internet users to solve common
problems
v Accessing support services.
Reference
The Open University. (2019). Digital literacy: succeeding in a digital world. UK