How to Assess Digital Literacy for Students (and Educators!)
For years, educators have been buzzing about the importance of “digital literacy.” But what do those words really mean? According to the American Library Association, digital literacy is “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.” A growing reliance on web-based testing has forced many schools to confront the lack of digital literacy among their students and staff. And, as the COVID-19 outbreak showed us, assessing digital literacy is more important than ever—for students and for educators.
What Students Need to Know
So what kind of tech savvy do students need to succeed? Beyond the rudimentary skills needed to answer online test questions, students must understand how to do online research and use a wide array of digital tools. They should know how to create video and audio, participate in video conferencing, share and collaborate remotely, and use slideshows and online posters.
And, as the COVID-19 pandemic has made painfully clear, remote learning skills are essential today. Even before the pandemic, the popularity of online classes had been growing exponentially as a complement to classroom learning. This includes taking online college-level classes and enriching learning through webinars. Both require the ability to manage audio and video on digital devices, submit homework and classwork online, communicate with the teacher and classmates remotely, and stay on top of grades.
We can also start preparing students now for college and career tasks, such as writing resumes, preparing an online curriculum vitae, connecting digital devices to local area networks (LANs) and Wi-Fi, and managing the security of their personal device and information.
How to Determine Your Assessment Needs
Before you can choose an assessment tool, it’s important to figure out your goals. Consider the following questions:
How comprehensive should the tool be? Do you want a tool that’s diagnostic, CONTINUE READING: How to Assess Digital Literacy for Students (and Educators!) - NEA Today