BUILDING AND ENHANCING NEW LITERACIES ACROSS

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CHAPTER 9: Cyber Literacy/Digital Literacy

Objectives:
 Define what is digital and cyber Literacy
 Engage with the role of digital literacy in the 21st century
 Appreciate the effects of becoming a digitally literate person

What Is Cyber Literacy?

It can be best defined

as knowing where to
go to find reliable and
accurate resources on
the Internet, and also
helping students find
these resources and
avoid incorrect
information.

While 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.

Cyber literacy means voicing an opinion about

what these technologies should become and
being an active, not passive participant.
To be cyber literate, an individual must be more
than a user of technology and must become an
active participant in the discussion.

In Cyber literacy; Evaluating the Reliability of Data, Susan Regan Gregson defines
Cyber literacy as; knowing where to go to find reliable and accurate resources on the
internet.

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In Lisa Mulka‟s new book: Cyber Literacy for the Digital Age she places further
emphasis on new technological advancements in today‟s society;
Cyber Literacy for the Digital Age equips students with the knowledge, tools and
resources they will need to adapt, grow, and stay safe in today‟s ever-changing
technological world.
It should be implemented into the school‟s curriculum and school‟s should have
information sessions for students, staff and parents about cyber literacy as well as
issues surrounding online security, privacy and cyber bullying.
Awareness and education are the keys to the prevention of the cyber bullying.

Cyber Literacy also means:

 Knowing how to use software
 Doing research online
 Understanding how technology can be used
 Adopting to/ keeping current on new technologies

Cyber Literacy and Digital Literacy are both included in the idea of „information literacy‟,
which is the ability to effectively find, identify, evaluate, and use information. Digital
literacy specifically applies to media from the internet, smartphones, video games, and
other nontraditional sources.

What Is Digital Literacy?

Digital literacy implies the same reading-

writing skills, but without paper, pencils,
books, or lectures. It's purpose-built and
student-driven.
Digital literacy refers to an individual's
ability to find, evaluate, and compose, and
clear information through writing and other
mediums on various digital platforms.

Digital Literacy Applications

Web 2.0

What is Web 2.0 technology?

When it comes to defining web 2.0. the term means such internet applications which
allow sharing and collaboration opportunities to people and help them to express
themselves online.
“Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the
internet as a platform, and any attempt to understand the rules for success on that new
platform.”– Tim O‟ Reilly.

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It‟s a simply improved version of the first worldwide web, characterized specifically by
the change from static to dynamic or user-generated content and also the growth of
social media.
The concept behind Web 2.0 refers to rich web applications, web-oriented architecture,
and social web. It refers to changes in the ways web pages are designed and used by
the users, without any change in any technical specifications.

Darcy DiNucci- an information architecture consultant, coined the term Web 2.0 in her
article “Fragmented Future”. The term was popularized by Tim O’Reilly and Media Live
International in 2004.

Web 2.0 examples include hosted services;

 Google Maps
 Web applications
 Google Docs
 Flickr
 Video sharing sites (YouTube)
 Wikis
 blogs (Word Press)
 social networking (Facebook)
 Micro-blogging (Twitter)
 Podcasting (Podcast Alley) & content hosting services and many more.

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Instant messaging
Instant messaging, often shortened to IM or IM'ing, is the exchange of near real-
time messages through a stand-alone application or embedded software. Unlike chat
rooms with many users engaging in multiple and overlapping conversations,
IM sessions usually take place between two users in a private, back-and-forth style of
communication.

8 Examples of Instant Messaging

1. WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a well-known instant messaging

app that many users use to chat with friends and
colleagues. One of the reasons behind the
popularity of this app is its simplicity of use. It is
also reliable and you need not follow any lengthy
sign-up procedure to use it.

2. Skype

Though Skype is more popularly known and

used for video calling, its instant messaging
ability cannot be avoided. Once you sign in, you
can enjoy numerous interesting features, send
and receive instant texts, group chat, share
file/media, emoji, and enjoy video and voice
calling.

3. ezTalks
If you believe in settling for nothing less than the
best then ezTalks is the best option for you. It
offers everything that the other IM apps offer and
more, ability to send text messages, HD voice
and video calls, group chat, add up to 100
members, white boarding, and a lot more.
Its huge list of interesting features makes it not
only the best example of instant messaging with
friends but also with colleagues worldwide.

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4. Viber
Viber is yet another example of instant messaging that
can help you stay connected with your colleagues and
friends just using any internet connection. Using Viber
you can enjoy instant messaging, live video chats, and
voice calls. This tool also offers many free and paid
stickers as well as emoji icons that will make your
instant messaging experience all the more enjoyable.

5. Meebo
Meebo is another popular web-based application that
supports all popular chat networks, it allows voice and
video chat, and even has an iPhone interface.
What is most attractive about it is that it works no
matter where you are, and no matter what type of
operating system you are using, as long as you have a
good internet connection and a web browser.

6. Kik
Kik is yet another IM app that does not need you to use
phone numbers from your contact list to get connected.
Instead, you can add people by their usernames and
enjoy a group chat with up to 50 people. So, if you have
an important matter to discuss with colleagues with
instant response from all, this IM app can prove to be of
help. Not only can you send text messages, but also
share memes, funny GIFs, and images, thus making it
a great option for a nice chat with friends and family.

7. WeChat

WeChat offers you all that you may be interested in.

So, using it you can send messages free of cost, and
also enjoy voice and video calling. It even has an
interesting feature known as Moments, which allows
you to share your precious memories and moments
with videos and photos.A Friends Radar using which
you can scan your surroundings to find other people
using WeChat and connect with them.

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8. Messenger

Messenger is Facebook's official IM app, which has

also gained popularity. It allows you to send text
messages, share images, videos, GIFs, and enjoy
video and voice calls. Using it you can instantly
connect with those friends on your Facebook list.

Social networking sites:

The use of Internet-based social media sites to stay
connected with friends, family, colleagues,
customers, or clients. Social networking can have a
social purpose, a business purpose, or both, through
sites such as
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, among
others. Social networking has become a significant
base for marketers seeking to engage customers.

Facebook remains the largest and most popular social network, with over two billion
people using the platform. It was followed, in order of popularity, by Instagram,
Facebook Messenger, Twitter, and Pinterest, according to Statistica.com.

Digital Citizenship
Digital citizenship refers to responsible
technology usage, and teaching digital
citizenship is essential to helping
students achieve and understand digital
literacy, as well as ensuring cyber-
bullying prevention, online safety, digital
responsibility and digital health &
wellness.
It‟s a whole new reality of learning for
students, with so much of their
communication and education now
happening online.

Our responsibility as educators now extends beyond the classroom to a world within
keyboards and html codes.

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Teaching students to navigate these digital spaces responsibly is a major part of helping
them develop a healthy relationship with the world around them. Integrating digital
citizenship into your classrooms is a vital part of this process.
Digital citizenship refers to responsible technology usage, and teaching digital
citizenship is essential to helping students achieve and understand digital literacy, as
well as ensuring cyber-bullying prevention, online safety, digital responsibility, and
digital health and wellness.

Why You Should Teach Digital Citizenship

New technology is being created daily, and online communication is becoming an
increasingly common and important means of building and maintaining connections.
Technology in education, job searching, and employment navigation, including meetings
and conferences, are just a few of the countless ways technology usage and
understanding will continue to be major tools of success for students.

Teaching digital citizenship equips students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to
succeed as lifetime learners.

1. Information Literacy
Teaching digital literacy empowers students with the skills and understanding necessary
to not only use internet and technology to their benefit, but also to use it in the most
effective ways to quickly find information and utilize the ever expanding list of sites and
means of communication at their disposal.
This can include teaching how to conduct a proper Google search, as well as which
sites are reputable to use as reference materials, among other useful knowledge.

2. Cyber-bullying Prevention
Cyber-bullying is an increasing cause for concern for both teachers and students, and
teaching students to engage respectfully online is important for its prevention.
Establishing guidelines and incorporating lessons for responsible online communication
and etiquette early, and repeating and reinforcing them often, helps students learn to
communicate respectfully with peers.
 Set clear boundaries
 Encourage students to be open and report any behavior that makes them
uncomfortable

3. Online Safety
Of all of the invaluable educational and life lessons that stem from teaching digital
citizenship, online safety is definitely one of the most essential and influential. Students
who are taught to understand and prioritize online safety feel confident to take charge of
their digital lives and are less likely to fall victim to potential threats that await online.
Teach students to protect themselves and their identities by visiting appropriate
websites, refraining from posting personal information about themselves and others,
trusting their gut, and notifying a trusted adult when things don‟t feel right.

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4. Digital Responsibility
The power we now have to create and define our own digital experiences is unmatched,
and with that power comes responsibility. Students must be taught to wield that power
wisely, as doing so is essential to their long-term educational and personal success.
Teachers should incorporate curriculum designed to create awareness of how to
navigate the potential threats of hacking, piracy, and viruses, as well as educating
students on plagiarizing and other forms of theft or inappropriate online conduct.

5. Health & Emotional Wellness in the Digital World

Technology can be addictive, and that addiction can be detrimental to students‟ health.
There have been documented correlations between extended use of technology and
physical and psychological issues, including (but not limited to): mental stress, eye
problems, ergonomic issues, and even dietary issues. In the spirit of educating,
nurturing, and protecting students as whole people, teaching student citizenship
effectively must also prioritize the health and wellness of students.

How to Teach Student Digital Citizenship

Teaching digital citizenship can be boiled down to define, create, and execute. Define
the elements of digital citizenship you wish to incorporate into your curriculum, such as
the five digital citizenship tips listed above. Then, construct a creative curriculum that
highlights the themes you wish to teach.
This is a simplified look at teaching digital citizenship, but there are other issues to
discuss with your students including:

 Cyber-bullying
 Effective passwords
 Email spoofing and virus protection
 Plagiarism
 Social media
 Literacy intelligence

These seven steps may sound complex, but they‟re surprisingly simple once you
start planning them out.

1. Empathy
When you want to teach students how to be good digital citizens, the best starting
point is teaching empathy.
This is because empathy is crucial to understanding how people talk and behave
online.
2. How the Internet Works
The Internet is an incredible network of interconnected servers and computers that
direct web browser requests through a network of wired and wireless connections
3.Clickbait
Clickbait refers to any text, headline, video title, etc. that‟s deliberately written to
pique someone‟s interest and get them to click.

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This is a hard urge to fight. But it can make the difference between students‟ being
responsible digital citizens or having their computers infected with viruses.
Even worse, your students could click an article that delivers fake news to them.
4. Fake News
Fake news is a relatively new phenomenon in 2019. It refers to any media outlet
publishing severely biased or intentionally false information.
In essence, if students ever read something that sounds incredibly skewed to one
ideology over another, it‟s fake news.
5. Acknowledging the Digital Divide
The digital divide is the disparity between those who have access to modern digital
tools (like computers and the Internet) and those who don‟t.
6. Practicing Digital Wellness
Digital wellness is the practice of refraining from indulging in the Internet and
digital media for unreasonable amounts of time.
In other words, it‟s the practice of knowing when to “take a break” from screens.
So, strangely enough, the best way to practice digital wellness is to leave digital
devices
7. Securing Digital Devices
The final element of becoming a good digital citizen is securing digital devices.
This is the perfect capstone to digital citizenship classes because it takes
everything students have learned and applies it to real-life scenarios.
You‟ve shown students how the importance of empathy. You‟ve shown them how
the Internet works. You‟ve even shown them why they need to use digital devices
in moderation.

REFERENCE
https://www.znetlive.com/blog/web-2-0/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-networking.asp
8 Examples of Instant Messaging | ezTalks
An Introduction to Cyber World all you need to know ..
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/news-and-media-literacy/what-is-digital-
literacy
https://www.goguardian.com/blog/learning/5-reasons-to-teach-digital-citizenship-
this-school-year/

VIDEO LINKS
https://youtu.be/bZvdfmc_Rvk
https://youtu.be/8PKubrNnubc
https://youtu.be/k1hTCOIu8pY

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