In the late 1990s the term ‘Digital literacy’ emerged and was first promoted by author Paul Gilster in his 1997 book Digital Literacy (McArthur et al. 2018). Since then, the digital landscape has rapidly developed with digital literacy becoming an essential skill for effective participation in many aspects of life such as employment and education (Deakin University, 2018). Gilster explains the term as simply literacy for a digital age (Ng, 2012), and emphasises how the growing culture of connectivity, online creating and sharing (Ng, 2012) has amplified the need for individuals to be able to find, understand and disseminate information in a digital world. I understand digital literacy as the ability to use and understand digital technology, such as editing software and knowing how and when to appropriately use it. As a student it is essential I understand how to engage with digital technology and how to operate and evaluate data to construct my own meaning (Rubble, 2007). For example, I need to develop my understanding of WordPress and its features in order for me to create and develop areas of my blog.
Deakin University, Digital Literacy, viewed 11 July 2019, <https://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/1237742/digital-literacy.pdf>.
McArthur, T., Lam-McArthur, J., Fontaine, L. 2018, The Oxford companion to the English language, Vol. 2.
Rubble, M. and Bailey, G. 2007, Digital Citizenship in Schools.
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