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Digital Literacy

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What is Digital Literacy?

Learning, creating, and living in our digital world can be complicated. Digital literacy is the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that help us deal with this complexity and participate in our digital society.

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Our Framework

People think about digital literacy in lots of different ways. We created a framework to define our approach and share it with others.

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Our framework represents a multilayered approach to digital literacy with learners at the center. Learners interact with core competencies like Identity & Wellbeing, Discovery, Evaluation, Ethics, Creation & Scholarship, Communication & Collaboration, and Curation. These core competencies are informed by key values like Curiosity, Reflection, Equity & Social Justice, Creativity, and Participation. Finally, all of this sits within the lens of multiple literacies including Data, Information, Media, and Invention.

Want to go deeper and learn more about our framework? Check out the Digital Literacy Framework Toolkit! This toolkit includes guides, learning outcomes, example lesson plans, and more.

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Get Involved

Explore, create, and connect with others at our workshops. Examples of our past workshops include:

  • Build Your Online Presence with ePortfolios
    Analyze your online presence and leave with strategies for using an ePortfolio to document and share your work.
  • Fact-Check Your Vote
    Are you ready for the next election? We'll help you navigate propaganda, investigate claims, and make informed choices!
  • Digital Self-Defense
    What do companies really want with your info? How much do you need to worry about protecting yourself? Improve your awareness in digital spaces and learn strategies to fight back against surveillance and manipulation.
  • Declutter Your Email
    Like it or not, organization is a key part of academic success. Save time and reduce stress by developing a plan to organize your inbox.
  • Make Your Phone Work for You
    We'll cover tips and tricks for making intentional choices about how you organize and engage with your phone including managing notifications, screentime, and other settings.  
     

Check out our Events Calendar for a full listing of upcoming events and workshops.

Request a workshop or contact digilit-g@vt.edu to talk more. 

 

Digital Literacy Student Fellows support digital literacy initiatives through self-directed projects and participation in planning for events, teaching, and outreach. 

Past Fellows Projects:

  • Researching algorithmic bias education
  • Interviewing students about distance learning during the pandemic
  • Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Library's Popular Reading Collection
  • Designing infographics, videos, and promotional materials 
  • Developing programming about reading diverse authors
     

To learn more about the Digital Literacy Fellows program, contact digilit-g@vt.edu. Fellows are hired periodically through Handshake. 

  • Online Identity Unpacked: Digital Literacy Symposium 2019
    • Watch Dr. Bonnie Stewart's keynote, Bringing the Web Back: The Digital Literacies We Need Right Now in VTechWorks.
       
  • Explore, Create, Connect: Digital Literacy Symposium 2017
    • View Dr. Renee Hobbs’ keynote slides. 
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Learn on Your Own

 

Explore, create, and connect with others at our workshops. Examples of our past workshops include:

  • Build Your Online Presence with ePortfolios
    Analyze your online presence and leave with strategies for using an ePortfolio to document and share your work.
  • Fact-Check Your Vote
    Are you ready for the next election? We'll help you navigate propaganda, investigate claims, and make informed choices!
  • Digital Self-Defense
    What do companies really want with your info? How much do you need to worry about protecting yourself? Improve your awareness in digital spaces and learn strategies to fight back against surveillance and manipulation.
  • Declutter Your Email
    Like it or not, organization is a key part of academic success. Save time and reduce stress by developing a plan to organize your inbox.
  • Make Your Phone Work for You
    We'll cover tips and tricks for making intentional choices about how you organize and engage with your phone including managing notifications, screentime, and other settings.  

Check out our Events Calendar for a full listing of upcoming events and workshops.

Request a workshop or contact digilit-g@vt.edu to talk more. 

  • Take our quiz to find out what kind of digital citizen you are! 
  • Read more about each digital citizen type 
Teacher at whiteboard pointing to lesson

For Educators

Use this toolkit to put our digital literacy framework into action and get inspired when revising or creating a learning experience. 

Find digital literacy learning objects created at Virginia Tech in Odyssey. Check out collections for First-Year Writing, Undergraduate Research, and Digital Literacy as a whole. 

Find curated resources from other institutions in the Digital Literacy toolkit companion guide.

  • Are you a community member looking to learn more about workshops or partnership? Email us at vtulcommunityengagement-g@vt.edu.
  • Are you a Virginia Tech affiliate looking to partner on ENGL 1105/1106 or COMM 1015/1016 instruction? Check out our request form.
  • Just want to learn more about teaching at the University Libraries? Visit our Instruction & Workshops page. 

 

Highlights

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