I'm writing this blog post as part of the Digital Literacies for Online Learning course, where we're asked to explore different definitions of digital literacies and construct a personal definition based on our reading. It's interesting to note that originally the term was used in the singular - ' digital literacy' - but, as explained in AdvanceHE's (n.d.) handy history of the term , the increasing complexity of the digital world and the skills needed to navigate it shifted usage to the plural. I find it helpful to start with a short definition of digital literacies which sets the boundaries of what we are talking about: digital literacies are "those capabilities which support living, learning and working in a digital society" (Jisc, n.d.). This definition indicates how, for many of us, the digital environment now impacts on most aspects of our lives. It also emphasises that digitalisation needs to be understood as a social phenomenon. D...
One of our tasks as learners on the OERu's Introduction to Digital Literacies course (LiDA101) is to create a Personal Learning Network map. You can find an explanation of what this on the PLN mapping challenge pages of the course. Here's my map (you may have to zoom in a bit to read it properly): I've used a colour code to distinguish how I use the different tools: Solid green = tool used mainly for formal learning and professional development Solid blue = tool used mainly for work Solid yellow = tool used mainly for social life and personal interests Green border = Any tool used for formal/professional learning When I did this mapping exercise, I was surprised how many different tools I use regularly (and there are probably more that I've forgotten). I was interested to realise that even tools that I think of as being just for inter-personal professional communication (email, Teams and Rocket.chat) are channels for my learning as well - email because I receive vari...