Are you intentional in how you help your child navigate information online and communicate on different platforms? Digital literacy skills are an integral part of learning and socialization today. Consider how you want to guide your child through this complicated landscape. A simple framework for teaching digital literacy includes how to:
- Analyze content.
- Address cognitive bias.
- Responsibly create content.
The Intersection of Literacy and Technology
The intersection of literacy and technology has given rise to terms like digital literacy, media literacy, critical media literacy, and news media literacy. It’s an evolving field of thought and more terms will surely emerge as both our understanding of technology and the technology itself advances. For the purposes of this post, I’ll refer to it as digital literacy.
A few items to consider in teaching digital literacy:
- Searching for content online.
- Reading in a format that can require continual choices, such as whether to click on hyperlinks, audio clips, video, and interactive graphics.
- Making decisions about what to share online.
- Writing material that is frequently shared in emails, blogs, tweets, etc.
- Creating content for videos, podcasts, snapchat, etc.
And we thought teaching plain old reading and writing was difficult! Imagine what Socrates, who thought the written word destroyed memory and weakened the mind, would think of how far we’ve moved beyond reading and writing.
A Simple Framework for Teaching Digital Literacy
Analyzing Content: The CRAAP Test and Beyond
The CRAAP test was developed by the Miriam Library at California State University, Chico. Routinely used for research, there’s no reason it can’t be applied to any online content – from an Instagram post to a Youtube video.
- Currency – when was the information posted or published?
- Relevancy – what is the importance of the information for your research?
- Authority – who wrote this and what are their qualifications?
- Accuracy – is the information supported by evidence?
- Purpose – why is this information available?
Then, dig a little deeper with these questions…
“Who made this? Why did they make it? What systems of power does it enforce? Whose stories are being told and whose are being left out?”
Azsanee Truss, doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania, quoted in Reimagining Digital Literacy Education to Save Ourselves, Learning for Justice, Fall 2021
Public school teachers often have to show very neutral content when teaching digital literacy. At home though, you have free rein to look at what’s really out there. Together, you can critically evaluate anything, including the hard stuff – politics, race, gender, abortion, religion, and more – to help your children navigate the information they encounter.
Address Cognitive Bias
Cognitive bias is defined as the shortcuts our brain takes to process information. It’s a way to quickly process information, but it can often be flawed. Racial profiling is an example of cognitive bias.
Cognitive bias plays a role in what we choose to read, hear, and watch. It also determines what we will share and perpetuate.
“When you understand how your cognitive biases work, when you understand why you’re reacting the way you do and why you were jumping to conclusions and why you have this urge to share certain things, it actually gives you back some control and power and helps you make different choices.”
Kristin Lord, president and CEO of IREX, quoted in Reimagining Digital Literacy Education to Save Ourselves, Learning for Justice, Fall 2021
Take some time to help your child to explore any cognitive bias they might hold. Share your own cognitive biases. Discuss how you might work to overcome them. This is an important step for everyone to consider before posting and sharing content.
Engage in Content Creation
Finally, allow your child to engage in content creation. No, your five year old doesn’t need to have an Instagram account. But your older child will eventually make forays into online communication. Whether they’re simply sending emails, filling out job applications, or fully immersed in social media, they need your guidance.
This is your chance to share your values. To communicate what’s safe and appropriate. And to let them know you have confidence that they’ll be responsible in their content creation.
Beyond a Simple Framework for Digital Literacy
The above is by no means a comprehensive look at digital literacy. I was inspired to write this post by the article “Reimagining Digital Literacy Education to Save Ourselves”. Ironically, my mom – a very reluctant participant in the digital world – passed on the print version to me. However, it is available online and I’ve included the link below. I’ve also listed several other resources I found helpful.
…of course, you might check to see if you think I accurately analyzed the content, avoided cognitive bias, and was responsible in the content of this creation before you share it!
Reimagining Digital Literacy Education to Save Ourselves by Cory Collins, Learning for Justice Fall 2021
Association for Library Services to Children – A division of the American Library Association. This page has multiple resources, including CoolMomTech and The Joan Ganz Cooney Sesame Workshop to advance children’s learning through digital media.
Media Literacy Now – Advocates for improved media literacy in the public education system.
What is Digital Literacy? by Liana Loewus, Education Week (written in 2016, but provides a nice overview)
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