Digital Literacy in K-12 Education

Digital literacy in classrooms is more popular these days. It is an innovation that helps students use technologies and learn better than before. They can use it to explore, interact, and learn. Many schools have started using this technique to teach, test, and communicate. Also, it helps students to catch up with emerging technologies. 

Digital learning has changed traditional learning globally. The reason for this change is the ease of gathering information. Also, it has reduced the workload of both teachers and students. They can manage all school activities online with ease. Online learning helps students to become experts in all aspects of technology. 

Now, let's understand what digital literacy in education is. 

What is Digital Literacy?

Digital literacy allows students to learn using computers and smartphones over the internet. Teachers and students can interact from anywhere using this learning method. Students will also learn how to use the latest technology and gather information from the internet. Digital literacy in classrooms ensures that students will be able to use high-end devices in the future. This technology-driven world needs people with the best IT skills. In that way, students will be able to come up with innovative ideas to learn and grow. 

Digital learning in classrooms also ensures that students can interact with the global community hasslefree. They can deal with people from different parts of the world without fear and anxiety. It helps them learn a variety of skills and gain technical knowledge. Also, students think and show improved problem-solving skills. 

Let us talk about the importance of digital literacy in education in the next session. 

Importance of Digital Literacy in K-12 Education

Digital literacy in education can bring teachers and students together. They can interact with each other from anywhere using text and SMS. It also allows learners to access any information they need from the internet. In addition, kids will learn better by looking at the images and videos. All these factors tell why digital learning is vital in education.

Everyone uses mobile phones and tablets these days. So, learners don't have to buy books or study materials to learn. As mentioned above, learners can access information from various online sources even if the school is not providing them. Digital learning also teaches students to interact with digital communities. Students will become excellent digital citizens in the future. They will also be aware of cyberbullying and be safe. 

Finally, it is the responsibility of schools to bring digital literacy for students in education. We have plenty of online applications to promote digital learning. These apps are perfect for remote learning. Anyone can use these apps using a computer or smartphone on the internet. As per the reports, future jobs demand employees with high technical knowledge. It is another crucial reason for schools to implement digital literacy for students. 

Benefits of Digital Literacy for Teachers and Students

The major benefits of employing digital literacy for students and teachers are given below.  

• Learn From Anywhere

Remote learning is one of the most important benefits of digital learning. With a smartphone in hand and an internet connection, students can attend classes from anywhere. They can also continue their learning and research process even after the classes. In this way, students are more open to ideas, knowledge, and new learning skills. Also, teaching from home is more convenient for teachers too. Teachers don’t have to come to school daily, and they can save valuable time and money while traveling. 

• Better Engagement

Since students learn remotely, they can interact and discuss with other students online. It improves their communication and collaboration skills which will be helpful in the future. Likewise, teachers can also stay connected with students and help them with their doubts. Teachers can also track students in real-time and test their performance quickly. They can engage with students right away if something is wrong and correct them. 

• Better Time Management

All students don't learn at the same pace. Digital literacy in classrooms allows students to learn faster the way they want. Students and teachers feel heavy and tired with strict timings. On the other hand, digital learning features a flexible schedule where students can learn at their convenience. Teachers can also deliver personalized learning experiences for students. Each student works on different assignments, and teachers connect with them privately. Finally, users can also save a lot of time traveling to educational institutions.   

• Manage Students Easily

Many teachers still find it tedious to manage traditional classrooms. Distraction and noise from students will affect the quality of teaching and productivity. Sometimes noisy classrooms disturb nearby classrooms as well. A digital classroom solves all these problems. Teachers can easily manage students online and put the respective students on mute if there is noise. It helps them take classes properly. Students also get opportunities to clear their doubts at the end of sessions. In this way, a digital learning system even allows teachers to manage multiple classes easily. 

• Improved Tech Skills

Digital learning platforms like Edisapp help students to improve their tech skills quickly. Since they use this app to manage all aspects of their studies, they will become more proficient with computers and the internet. These tech skills are crucial for getting jobs in the future. Typing speed, concentration, and problem-solving skills of the students are improved considerably. Thus, digital learning is the first step for students to keep up with this technological era. 

Traditional Literacy vs Digital Literacy

Traditional learning has conventional reading and writing. Students read textbooks, understand topics, and write the exams. However, it is not enough to learn the data given in books. Children should learn beyond textbooks to keep up with the emerging technological changes.  

Digital literacy for students takes the quality and efficiency of education to the next level. It adds audio and video into the teaching process. Therefore, students can improve their tech skills, concentration, and problem-solving skills. Since students can communicate with people from different parts of the world, they can improve their communication skills too. Students enhance their learning methods by looking at images, videos, and diagrams. They can also relate their academic knowledge to real-life situations. Thus, digital learning is way more advanced than conventional learning. 

When it comes to traditional literacy, the teaching methods include: 

• Textbooks
• Notebooks
• Written tests
• Reading
• Practical tests

On the other hand, digital literacy for students is not just confined to the classroom. It has a wider reach and features the following tools: 

• Cloud computing
• Multimedia file sharing
• Game-based learning
• Education audio and video
• Digital interaction
• Combining virtual and real worlds 

Finally, parents may not be able to check with their children regularly in traditional education. Also, parents have to take leaves from their work to attend parent-teacher meetings, sign report cards, etc. Digital literacy in education promotes the parents' involvement in education. Parents can easily connect with teachers from anywhere. They can attend meetings and sign report cards online. Since students learn from their homes, parents can also help and provide support whenever they need it. Parents will know more about their kid's talents and interests. Thus, when it comes to traditional literacy vs digital literacy for students, the latter part always takes the top spot. 

Conclusion

Now, we have learned the importance of digital learning and how it improves education. Of course, every teaching method has its pros and cons. But here, the benefits of digital literacy completely outplayed its disadvantages. That is the reason why we want every school to introduce digital learning before it gets late. The most effective way to bring digital learning to students is to use ideal software.

If you're planning to bring digital literacy to education, don't look beyond Edisapp. It's a great application that promotes digital literacy at a low cost. Also, it has all the features you need to conduct efficient online classes!