Principle and Skill of Digital Literacy

Digital Literacy

The term digital literacy is a new concept. “What is Digital Literacy?” Today, advancements in science and technology have enabled us to create electronic resources like mobiles and computers. The ability to fully utilize those resources is digital literacy.

At this time, we are constantly listening to the concept of Digital Nepal. Every essential product and service is available online. Similarly, being able to use a mobile or computer properly has become a necessity at the level of online education and social media.

Now every citizen is joining the world of internet. It requires a certain computer language and some technical issues and concepts, without which it is impossible for you to become digitally literate easily.

The whole world has come closer because of the internet. Given the increasing use of the Internet, if most people can use it, we will see a different world of the Internet. For that, all people need to be digitally literate in the future.

You cannot easily use technical resources without trying them. Currently, school children and young generation are doing their education and other facilities online. It is very easy for them to become digitally literate. But senior citizens are found confused while using mobile and other internet facilities

People use mobile internet for an average of two to three hours from waking up in the morning to sleeping at night. Therefore, online shopping of essential things, banking facilities, television facilities, health facilities, online education as well as online booking for travel has become easy for all people.

It is important to take care of your health while being digitally literate, because the increasing use of computers and mobiles is having an adverse effect on the eyes, brain and skin. It is not enough for him to take proper care of his health and come back to the digital world.

A few years ago the goal was to make all citizens literate. But now the goal is to make people digitally literate with mobile, computer and internet. Technology is making human life more convenient and healthy day by day. As part of that, the concept of digital literacy should be implemented everywhere.

Just like some time ago there was a debate that a person should be literate. In the same way, the debate has started that people should be digitally literate today. Digital literacy is also a necessity today.

Literacy literally means the ability to read something and write something. At least being able to read what you want to read, being able to express what you want to say in writing is literacy.

There are different types of literacy. Like; Financial literacy, cultural literacy, health literacy, media literacy etc.

Literacy in Nepal

During the Rana rule in Nepal, there was a ban on education for common people. Therefore, there were very few educated or literate people in Nepal at that time. After the end of the Rana regime in 2007, there was a revolution in the education sector.

With the end of Rana rule, the importance of literacy in Nepal is increasing. Various programs have been conducted to make Nepal a literate country. However, this plan has not yet been fully successful.

But it started with Nepal’s first five-year plan (2013-2018). Major literacy was included in the plan. Since then, many works have been done continuously to make Nepal literate.

Digital Literacy in Nepal

Recently, there has been a debate about digital literacy in Nepal as well. The government has also made it a priority. President Bidya Devi Bhandari has announced on behalf of the government that the digital literacy program will be launched in the financial year 2079/80. She made this announcement while presenting this year’s policy and program. To support this program, the World Bank is working under the Digital Nepal Acceleration (DNA) project. In Nepal, this project is being conducted with the aim of expanding broadband access and engaging more people in digital economies.

4 Principles of Digital Literacy

• Comprehension. The first principle of digital literacy is simply comprehension–the ability to extract implicit and explicit ideas from a media.
• Interdependence.
• Social Factors.
• Curation.

5 Digital literacy skills employers want to see

• Independent research.
• Familiarity with terms and common platforms.
• Collaboration.
• Adapting to new technology.
• Teaching or explaining technologies you use.

Who is called digital literate?

You may also have found us on the Internet. This is a digital skill. If so, will anyone who gets internet and technology become digitally literate!

To know this, you have to do these exercises prepared on the basis of a report prepared by UNESCO on digital literacy. If you answered yes to most of these questions, then you are a digital literate.

• Do you know about digital devices and software? Are you able to operate them?
• Can you use digital technologies to find what you want on the Internet? Can you analyze them, store them?
• Can you communicate and collaborate with others using digital technologies? Can you protect/manage your digital identity?
• Can you create digital content? Do you know how copyrights apply to those materials?
• Do you know about digital devices, personal/environmental safety, privacy protection, etc.?
• Do you have knowledge about the problems that arise when using digital technology and their solutions? Do you have the ability to use them to create new knowledge?
• Do you have the skills to understand, analyze and evaluate specialized digital technologies? Do you have knowledge about which digital tools and technologies to use in which field?

The above questions provide a broad definition of digital literacy. These questions cover all areas and geography. That’s why anyone in the world asks these questions and gets the answer to the question ‘Is he digitally literate?’

Digital literacy is a broad subject. Its dimensions are many. If Nepal really wants digitization, the first condition is that citizens should be digitally literate. But unfortunately, Nepal has not yet become fully literate.

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