Digital literacy: Ability to read and write digitally in order to 'access the Internet; find, manage and edit digital information; join in communications; and otherwise engage with an online information and communications network...' (Blackall, L 2005)
I skimmed through the Job Market section of PDI. Common denominator: Must.be. computer.literate. (I believe computer literacy and digital literacy are pretty much the same in terms of accessing digitally interpreted, stored, and retrieved information). It’s not enough that you know how do use MS Word; in most ads, knowledge about MS Office applications is a requirement. It’s not enough that you can express yourself in English fluently; you should understand computer lingo as well. Some companies were forced to implement ‘early retirement’ to welcome the new breed of the computer literate workforce. Today, whoever knows how to operate and use computer programs and the Internet have better chances of landing a high paying job, are better decision-makers (as they know how to access and manipulate digital information) and therefore have better chances of getting promoted.
Questions. The only thing that can stop such inequality (and this is something that’s been written in history as well) is access. The question is, is it feasible? Is it possible for every household to have a computer? Is it possible for every member of the household to be computer literate? How wide would the gap be (between the ‘know-hows’ and the ‘no-know’) before every single person in the Philippines becomes ‘digitally’ literate?
Considerations. Consider our level of English competency. Then consider how almost every instruction manual, guidelines, and even Internet resources in using digital technology (not limited to computers) is written in English. What medium of instruction do teachers use in teaching basic I.T. and computer concepts, jargons, processes? What language is used in computer textbooks? To combat inequality with digital literacy, it is essential that we have a mastery of the English language- also the universal language used in explaining and interpreting digital information.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I don't think computer literate people are any better decision makers than those who do not completly know all the complexities and nuances of the digital world. Sometimes, those who are even digital-literate have greater tendencies to be scatterbrains. It's all a matter of habit, and proper training I guess and not computer know-how.
Good point.
But they're better in a sense that they can use the computer, information saved on the computer, and information obtained from the Internet to access additional information that may help them with their decisions. (Too much information on one paragraph.. hehehehe)
Post a Comment