Digital literacy and the workplace

Deakin Library

19 Sept 201802:21

Summary

TLDRDigital literacy is essential for professional success, enabling adaptation to new technologies, effective communication, and productive teamwork. It's not about mastering every tool but having transferable skills to explore, critically assess, and adapt to digital changes. Workplace information differs from academia, often requiring consultation of open access resources and critical evaluation. Digital literacy is a lifelong, evolving skill, crucial for both personal and professional growth, with internships offering valuable experience in this journey.

Takeaways

💻 Digital literacy is essential for both placement and professional life, as technology is integral to all work aspects.
🔧 It's not about mastering every tool, but having the skills to explore and adapt to new technologies with confidence.
🤝 Communication skills are vital, and digital literacy helps in effectively interacting with colleagues in a digital environment.
💡 Being digitally literate involves critical engagement with information and the ability to adapt to changes in the digital world.
🛠️ These skills are transferable and applicable to any technology or workplace, making them universally beneficial.
🔎 Problem-solving in the workplace often requires identifying the needed information and searching for solutions widely.
📚 Open access sources are scholarly resources available for free, which are important for workplace research.
🧐 Evaluating free content requires critical thinking to ensure the reliability and relevance of the information found.
📝 Copyright and ethical considerations must be taken into account when using information in a professional setting.
🌐 The digital landscape is dynamic, with continuous evolution in how information and data are created, shared, and accessed.
🌟 Digital literacy is a lifelong skill that will be continuously developed both in professional and personal contexts.

Q & A

Why is digital literacy important for a university student's future career?
-Digital literacy is crucial as it enables students to adapt to new technologies, communicate effectively with colleagues, and be productive team members in a technology-driven work environment.
What does it mean to be digitally literate according to the script?
-Being digitally literate means possessing skills that allow one to explore new technologies confidently, critically engage with information, and easily adapt to changes in the digital world.
How does digital literacy differ from knowing how to use every digital tool available?
-Digital literacy is not about mastering every tool but having transferable skills that can be applied to any technology or workplace to adapt to change and explore new tools.
What challenges might one face when using free content from open access sources in the workplace?
-Challenges include critically evaluating the suitability and reliability of free content, considering copyright issues, and ensuring ethical use of the information.
How does the type of information used in the workplace differ from that used at university?
-Workplace information often requires consulting open access sources and involves different types of content that may not be as structured or vetted as academic resources at university.
What skills are required to tackle questions without easy answers in a professional setting?
-One needs to identify necessary information, search widely for solutions, evaluate their suitability, and then effectively communicate findings to the team.
Why is it important to consider copyright and ethical aspects when using information at work?
-Considering copyright and ethical aspects ensures legal compliance and maintains professional integrity, avoiding potential legal issues and upholding ethical standards.
How can a student's placement serve as a stepping stone in their digital literacy journey?
-A placement provides practical experience in applying digital literacy skills in a real-world context, allowing students to build and refine these skills in a professional environment.
What does the script suggest about the nature of technology and its impact on digital literacy?
-The script suggests that technology is ever-changing, requiring ongoing development of digital literacy skills to create, share, and access information and data effectively.
How can digital literacy skills be transferred to different technologies and workplaces?
-Digital literacy skills are transferable because they focus on adaptability, critical thinking, and the ability to learn and apply new technologies, making them applicable across various settings.
What is the role of critical thinking in the context of digital literacy as described in the script?
-Critical thinking plays a key role in digital literacy by enabling individuals to evaluate information found online, discern its quality, and make informed decisions about its use.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Digital Literacy in the Workplace

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of digital literacy for university students as they prepare for their placement and future careers. It highlights that digital literacy is integral to adapting to new technologies, effective communication, and teamwork. The paragraph clarifies that being digitally literate is not about mastering every tool but having the ability to explore new technologies, critically assess information, and adapt to changes. It also touches on the need for students to become familiar with open access scholarly resources and the importance of critical evaluation and ethical considerations when using information.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Digital Literacy

Digital literacy refers to the ability to effectively and critically navigate, evaluate, and create digital content. It is central to the video's theme as it emphasizes the importance of this skill set in both academic and professional settings. The script mentions that 'digital literacy will be crucial for your placement and your working life,' highlighting its relevance in adapting to new technologies and communicating with colleagues.

💡Adaptability

Adaptability is the capacity to adjust to new conditions or changes. In the context of the video, it is a key aspect of digital literacy, as it allows individuals to embrace new technologies and work environments. The script underscores this by stating that 'you’ll need to use digital literacy skills to adapt to new technologies.'

💡Communication

Communication is the process of exchanging information, ideas, or feelings. The video stresses the importance of digital literacy in facilitating effective communication within a team. As noted in the script, 'successfully communicate with your colleagues' is a vital part of being a productive team member.

💡Productivity

Productivity is the efficiency of producing desired outcomes. The script relates productivity to digital literacy by suggesting that possessing these skills contributes to being a 'productive team member.' It implies that understanding and utilizing digital tools can enhance work efficiency.

💡Critical Engagement

Critical engagement involves actively and thoughtfully interacting with content, rather than passively consuming it. The video encourages this approach, stating that digital literacy is 'about having skills that allow you to confidently explore new technologies, critically engage with the things you read.' This means not just reading or using technology, but analyzing and questioning its implications and uses.

💡Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are abilities that can be applied across various roles or industries. The script mentions that the skills gained from digital literacy are 'transferable to any technology, and in any workplace,' indicating that they are versatile and valuable in a range of professional contexts.

💡Information Evaluation

Information evaluation is the process of assessing the quality and reliability of information sources. The video script points out the need to 'evaluate their suitability' when searching for solutions, which is a critical part of digital literacy in a professional setting.

💡Open Access

Open access refers to scholarly resources that are freely available to the public. The script introduces this concept by stating, 'you’ll need to consult open access sources,' which is significant for understanding how to access and use information ethically and legally in a workplace.

💡Ethical Considerations

Ethical considerations involve thinking about the moral implications of actions, such as respecting copyright laws. The video mentions the need to 'consider copyright and other ethical aspects' when using information, which ties into the broader theme of responsible digital literacy.

💡Ongoing Skill Development

Ongoing skill development suggests that learning is a continuous process. The script conveys this by stating that 'digital literacy is an ongoing skill that you will be building on throughout your life,' emphasizing the lifelong nature of enhancing one's digital capabilities.

💡Placement

Placement refers to a period of work experience, often in a professional setting related to one's field of study. The video script uses the term to illustrate a practical application of digital literacy, stating that 'your placement will be a great stepping stone in your digital literacy journey,' indicating its importance in real-world work experiences.

Highlights

Digital literacy is crucial for your placement and working life.

Technology is deeply embedded in all aspects of work.

You need digital literacy to adapt to new technologies.

Digital literacy helps in successful communication with colleagues.

Being digitally literate is about having skills to explore new technologies.

It allows you to critically engage with the content you read.

Digital literacy skills are transferable to any technology or workplace.

You'll encounter questions without easy answers in the workplace.

Identifying information and searching for solutions is a key skill.

Evaluating the suitability of information is essential.

You need to share information with your team effectively.

Workplace information differs from university, requiring open access sources.

Open access means scholarly resources that are freely available.

Evaluating free content comes with its own challenges.

Critical thinking is required when using free information.

Consider copyright and ethical aspects when using information.

Technology is ever-changing, requiring continuous learning.

Digital literacy is an ongoing skill to be developed throughout life.

Your placement is a stepping stone in your digital literacy journey.