Schools and universities must broaden and change their curricula if they want to prepare students for an inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative digital future. Today’s education systems primarily treat science and engineering subjects as technical and hence as neutral rather than socially constructed, which is a regrettable legacy. This explains why it is uncommon to find courses that teach software design with the content that “understands” the contexts in which the programme will “operate.”

So, to ensure that technology works for all of us, we must understand additional forms of literacy accessible through digital literacy. Following are the seven ways to increase digital literacy in educational institutions:

1. Work Together with Coworkers

Consider conducting an audit to determine who in your educational institute is already incorporating digital literacy into their curriculum. This cooperative planning has been demonstrated to enhance cross-curricular learning, maximise resources across departmental boundaries, and promote teacher cooperation and trust.

2. Putting the Curriculum First

Instructors could become exasperated when they have “yet an additional activity” to include in their already tight schedules. Digital literacy, however, is not a stand-alone idea. The greatest way to teach digital literacy is to grasp its significance for a particular career because context is important. Teachers of citizenship can give their classes with actual issues and urge students to use their analytical ability to come up with answers. In contrast, English instructors can use blogging to enhance digital literacy.

3. Construction of Modern Classrooms

The prominence of new pedagogical approaches like student-led learning, collaborative learning, and flipped classrooms is growing due to the development of edtech. Additionally, such research-based teaching promotes digital literacy by assisting teachers in fostering deep learning.

4. Create Digital Classes

Without digital technologies, teaching students what they need online might be challenging. Teachers must therefore promote digital literacy. Students can learn the art of online learning using free educational software. For instance, they can use online tools to translate English to Hindi in language classes.

5. Analyse Your Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP)

When it comes to using technology in educational institutions, it’s critical that everyone in your institution be aware of what is and isn’t acceptable. As a result, your Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) likely already addresses issues like inappropriate Facebook contact and not posting student photographs online without parental consent.

6. Make Digital Ambassadors

There are digital pioneers in every educational institution. Create a focus group on digital literacy to take advantage of their enthusiasm and expertise and to raise awareness of digital literacies throughout your educational institution. They can also describe their histories and suggest some tools, e.g., translating English to Malay.

7. Involve Your Teachers and Pupils

Teachers are time-constrained; thus, many educational institutions ignore their obligations to teach kids about digital literacy because they are concerned about the technical proficiency of their personnel. Involve teachers early on to determine what they require to teach digital literacy. This could be concise guides, case studies, films, instruction, or ongoing drop-in sessions. 

To contribute to developing your institution’s digital environment in a way that gives it actual significance and creates strong and effective student-staff collaborations. Invite older students to discuss what digital literacy means and what abilities they believe are necessary to survive, thrive, and learn online.