The Need to Improve Digital Literacy for Effective Online Education

There is a huge divide when it comes to the internet. There are two groups of people, one that favors its use to advance the human endeavor to excel academically, and another group that is hesitant when it comes to using the Internet. This fracture has inspired numerous studies, each delving into the causes of this fracture.

But instead of delving into this lengthy research, we can point out one single fact that plays a vital role in this debate, ease of use. A significant portion of the adult population is not comfortable using the internet for studying and the reason for this is digital literacy, rather than the lack thereof. And that’s what we want to talk about in this article, the need to improve digital literacy for effective online education.

1. Digital literacy opens the door to vast resources
   There is an almost unlimited number of books available on the internet. If you are a student, you must have access to your library, thousands of books at your disposal. Imagine having that kind of power in the comfort of your home. Any book you want, any academic discipline you want to pursue, it’s all available online. Digital literacy will bring you closer to these resources, from cross-checking your research to accessing theoretical books, everything becomes easier. That’s why it’s important to spread digital literacy, lest fear of apprehension keep you from succeeding.

2. It provides education to everyone everywhere
   As the world around us changes, we are seeing more and more unique faces in education. Unlike the years of the 20th century, even working men and women are mobilizing to advance their education. Students from diverse backgrounds are in search of knowledge. Workers or first-year students, they have a thirst for knowledge that they can now satisfy in the limited time available to them in their schedules. As we grow as a civilization, there is more and more emphasis on making resources available to people as they need them. Digital literacy is not just desired but necessary to achieve this. The digital revolution in education aims to make education more inclusive and agile.

3. Digital Forums
   Discussion, debates and a healthy exchange of ideas are all essential concepts for a well-rounded education. Witnessing the changing world situation, lockdown and pandemic, meeting people and chatting in a group is getting harder and harder (in some places, dangerous). Student forums, places where you can post your questions and get answers, are becoming popular. But not having knowledge or not being comfortable online can limit your reach. Digital literacy is not just about knowing how and where to find resources, but also how easy they are to operate and access.

4. Digital literacy aids in modern workplaces too
   Creating a collaborative atmosphere is important in workplaces. Creating new innovative ideas is also important. And technology is an indispensable tool in both contexts. The problem students face, in becoming working men/women, is that they have lived with limited interaction with technology during their formative years and the high-tech setup of the workplace makes them feel outdated. . Digital literacy is not a challenge but a responsibility that must be fulfilled during the learning years. Technology is not something that can be avoided, sooner or later you will come across a situation, a scenario, a condition, which requires some technical mastery on your part. And missing that day would mean a big setback.

5. Safety and Security
   Last but not least; digital literacy is also knowing how to stay safe online. It is true that there are many opportunities and resources available online, but at the same time, there are also many threats that can cause harrowing experiences. None of this is meant to scare you, but rather to reinforce the importance of digital literacy. Online safety and knowing what to do in case of a breach is necessary for anyone who wants to use online resources. However, this is no longer a difficult task. Universities that offer online courses pay special attention to securing their channels from unwarranted influences.

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