Digital Literacy
Digital literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information using digital technologies. In ELT, it functions as both a pedagogical tool (technology used to teach language) and a learning objective (the digital skills learners need to function in contemporary society). Both teachers and learners require it.
Dimensions
Digital literacy is not a single skill but a cluster of competencies:
| Dimension | Description |
|---|---|
| Information literacy | Finding, evaluating, and managing online information; distinguishing reliable from unreliable sources |
| Communication literacy | Using digital tools for effective communication: email etiquette, forum participation, netiquette |
| Media literacy | Analysing and creating multimodal texts: videos, infographics, podcasts, social media posts |
| Technical literacy | Operating devices, software, and platforms; troubleshooting common problems |
| Critical literacy | Questioning bias, ideology, and power in digital texts; recognising misinformation and manipulation |
| Safety literacy | Managing privacy, passwords, digital footprint, and online identity |
Digital Literacy in Language Teaching
Digital literacy intersects with language teaching at multiple points:
- Authentic materials — the internet provides abundant authentic texts, but learners need the skills to evaluate them critically
- Research skills — inquiry and project-based tasks require learners to search, evaluate, and synthesise online information
- Communication — email, social media, and online forums are real communicative contexts with genre-specific conventions that learners need to master
- Production — creating blogs, videos, podcasts, and presentations develops productive skills while building digital competence
- Learner Autonomy — digitally literate learners can continue learning independently beyond the classroom
Teacher Digital Literacy
Teachers need their own digital literacy to:
- Select and adapt online materials critically
- Design technology-enhanced learning activities
- Use learning management systems and assessment tools effectively
- Model responsible digital practices for learners
- Navigate the ethical dimensions of AI tools and student data
The gap between teachers' and learners' digital competence ("digital immigrant" vs "digital native") has been overstated — Prensky's (2001) binary is largely discredited — but genuine differences in confidence and skill with specific tools do exist and require attention in teacher education.
21st-Century Skills Connection
Digital literacy is one of the "4 Cs" of 21st-century education (communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity) that language curricula increasingly incorporate. The integration of digital literacy into ELT reflects the recognition that language competence in the modern world cannot be separated from the ability to operate in digital environments.
Key References
- Dudeney, G., Hockly, N., & Pegrum, M. (2013). Digital Literacies. Pearson.
- Hockly, N. (2012). Digital literacies. ELT Journal, 66(1), 108–112.
- Pegrum, M. (2014). Mobile Learning: Languages, Literacies and Cultures. Palgrave Macmillan.