--- title: The Importance of Digital Literacy for Educators description: What is digital literacy? An overview of seven principles of digital literacy for 21st century students. image: https://info.echo360.com/hubfs/Digital%20Natives_Laptops%20in%20the%20Classroom.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://info.echo360.com/the-importance-of-digital-literacy-for-educators#main-content) # Echo360 - Uses - [ Higher Education ](https://echo360.com/uses/) - [ Continuing Medical Education ](https://echo360.com/continuing-education/) - Platform - [ Video ](https://echo360.com/platform/enterprise-video/) - [ Engagement ](https://echo360.com/platform/student-engagement) - [ Analytics ](https://echo360.com/platform/analytics) - [Stories ](https://echo360.com/stories) - Connect - [ Blog ](https://echo360.com/blog) - [ News ](https://echo360.com/connect/news) - [ Events ](https://echo360.com/connect/events) - [ Support ](https://echo360.com/customer-portal-login/) - [ Contact ](https://echo360.com/connect/contact) - [Login ](https://echo360.org/login?afterLoginUrl=%2Fhome) - [Documentation ](https://absolut.kohorta.co/documentation) # The Importance of Digital Literacy for Educators by [Alison Maloney](https://info.echo360.com/author/alison-maloney) on February 22, 2017 [Teaching and Learning](https://info.echo360.com/topic/teaching-and-learning)   ![Digital Natives_Laptops in the Classroom.jpg](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Digital%20Natives_Laptops%20in%20the%20Classroom.jpg?width=640&name=Digital%20Natives_Laptops%20in%20the%20Classroom.jpg) Every now and again I read an article online that gives an update of the statistics of [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPzf1TOJqm2Xs2Dv6_VVCDA). For example, in 2016 more than 300 hours of video were uploaded every minute, which obviously means that there is more content online than it is physically possible for any one person to watch. I’m okay with that as long as I can find what I need when I need it. However, it does make me think about the number of hours of content our students are watching – both for fun and for learning – and what that means for educators. Personally, I am in the camp who believe the concept of “digital natives” in education is stretching it a bit. For example, my nephew was born into a world where there have always been smartphones and handheld devices. Through trial and error and over many, many hours he has learned to get to the next level on his Xbox, a feat I do not take lightly. However, when I listen to him recite facts he heard or saw online, I am not sure how well he critically evaluates information that he finds or whether he can re-use this information in meaningful ways. He can use the devices, but is he really “digitally literate?” **What is Digital Literacy?** The [University of Illinois](http://www.library.illinois.edu/diglit/definition.html) defines digital literacy as “the ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate, evaluate and create information and to understand and use this information in multiple formats. It includes the ability to read and interpret media, to reproduce data and images through digital manipulation, and to evaluate and apply new knowledge gained from digital environments.” Online content isn’t so different from print in that some of it is excellent and accurate and some is simply not. However, there is so much more of it easily at our fingertips and just as we teach students to become critically literate of the messages they read (and create) in print, we need to teach them to become digitally literate. If we want students to apply the knowledge they gain from digital environments, we must engage them. Simply posting a video for students to watch without any expectation that they will engage with the content or apply it will not result in learning.  **Developing Digital Literacy** [JISC](https://www.jisc.ac.uk/about) has simplified their definition to ‘those capabilities which fit an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society’ and go on to explain that what it means to be digitally literate changes over time and across contexts. They created a [Quick Guide to Developing Student’s Digital Literacy](https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/developing-students-digital-literacy) in 2015 that has some helpful information and a useful diagram they call The Seven Elements of Digital Literacies. ![Seven Elements of Digital Literacies.png](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Seven%20Elements%20of%20Digital%20Literacies.png?width=640&name=Seven%20Elements%20of%20Digital%20Literacies.png) The JISC guide also references a developmental model of student’s digital literacies from Beetham and Sharpe (2010). They describe the 4 developmental levels as access, skills, practices and attributes. However it is defined, digital literacy today is as important as reading and writing. Without it, students will not have the creative and innovation skills they will need to be successful in the rapidly changing economy of the 21st century. Spread the word: [Share this blog post on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://info.echo360.com/the-importance-of-digital-literacy-for-educators) [Share this blog post on Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://info.echo360.com/the-importance-of-digital-literacy-for-educators) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://info.echo360.com/the-importance-of-digital-literacy-for-educators) ![Alison Maloney](https://info.echo360.com/hubfs/Alison%20Maloney.png) #### Alison Maloney Follow me on my website Follow me on Twitter Alison Maloney is a Learning Technologist with Echo360. As a former VP of Global Schools and Director of Lifelong Learning for one of the world’s largest learning companies, Alison has a deep passion for the importance of ongoing, sustained Professional Development. Working with students and educators across Australia and the U.S. for over 20 years, she recognises the importance of technology in offering the best learning opportunities possible and was drawn to Echo360 for its capacity to do that. She loves that her role at Echo360 allows her to continue to learn from other educators. Alison studied education at both Edith Cowan University and Murdoch University in Western Australia. ### Leave a comment: ## Related Articles [![](https://info.echo360.com/hubfs/NoteTakingandStudentSuccess.png) ](https://info.echo360.com/digital-note-taking) ### [Digital Note Taking: The Surprising Learning Benefits](https://info.echo360.com/digital-note-taking) by [Fred Krazeise](https://info.echo360.com/author/fred-krazeise) [![](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hub/16036/file-1858531643.jpg) ](https://info.echo360.com/online-and-digital-education-they-dont-bite-either) ### [Online and Digital Education: They Don't Bite Either!](https://info.echo360.com/online-and-digital-education-they-dont-bite-either) by [Fred Krazeise](https://info.echo360.com/author/fred-krazeise) [![](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hub/16036/file-2127714179.jpg) ](https://info.echo360.com/is-higher-ed-future-ready) ### [Is Higher Education “Future Ready?”](https://info.echo360.com/is-higher-ed-future-ready) by [Fred Krazeise](https://info.echo360.com/author/fred-krazeise) #### Segment - Mid market - Small business - Early stage - Enterprise #### Top features - Primary - Secondary - Tertiary - Bonus #### Resources - Blog - Academy - Doc - Developer #### Community - Twitter - Facebook - Youtube - Instagram - LinkedIn --- [![Absolut theme logo](https://info.echo360.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Absolut%20copy%20no%20related%20articles%20section/images/brand/absolut-logomark-nobg.png?width=30&height=111&name=absolut-logomark-nobg.png "Absolut theme logo")](https://info.echo360.com/) ©Copyright 2026. 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