Academic Essay on Literacy in a Digital World

This academic essay discusses the impact of digital literacy on our lives. It explores the pros and cons of digital literacy and how it is changing the way we live. The essay also highlights the importance of maintaining a balance between technology and human needs.

Running Head: Essay on Digital Literacy 1
Academic Essay on Literacy in a Digital World
System04096
5/29/2018

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Literacy refers to the competency to read and write of an individual. With digital literacy the
meaning of literacy expands the roots to the digital platform, creating a pool of knowledge
(Heick). In the present scenarios of living, individuals are predominantly reliable on digital
medium for the major activities including banking, education, connectivity, entertainment, food,
and booking tickets. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Snapchat and other
various types of mails and websites are used to spread news and awareness and for creating
content for the mass (Buck 9-38 ).
Digitalisation now, plays one of the essential roles in our life but on the other hand the time
when I was 9years old digitalisation was not so popular. Digital literacy then was itself not as
expanded as now. It meant the ability to use the computer for finding and computing information
which was done by a few people who holds the specialised knowledge in the field (Tyner 55-60).
Parents and teachers always instructed children to focus on reading, and writing more to enhance
our knowledge. Digital literacy was a luxury than a necessity of life. And just like others, I was
also advised and trained to have more of the traditional literacy shape through my studies in
order to succeed in my life. Libraries, book stores, newspapers were the things I searched for
whenever I was to clear a query or enhance my knowledge. The medium or the platforms for
digital literacy were yes, a few in numbers and considered as a distraction more (“Telling Stories
With Technology”). But I was allowed to access internet for a limited time as a mode of
entertainment. Using the desktop I had to talk to my friends who were far away or had a limited
connection with me through facebook. However, it started to distract me leading to sloping
down of my performance in studies and physical activities than the usual. After which I was
restricted for the usage of internet services and aim at my life’s goal entirely.

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But now after a decade, with passing of time growth and development has changed the entire
scenario of life. To match up to the fast growing life, my dependency on internet and digital
literacy has increased. Just with one touch on my phone I have all the solutions to my queries
along with staying updated with current affairs of the economy and friends. Accessible at all
point of time a day makes the importance of digitalisation more concerned area to manage
(Guzzetti 24-46). After analysing my own journey it can be said that digital literacy has started
occupying an irreplaceable place in the lives of people. Books, libraries, banking activities,
teaching are getting replaced by tablets, phones, online transactions and digital classrooms
respectively. In my perspective, seeing the rate by which technology is taking a hike in growth,
expansion and impacting the life the day is not far when humans will depend on technology for
every single need. Just like in today’s time communication, education, and other elements are
taken by digital media causes the essence of traditional literacy vanish from one’s life but also
aid our life faster and easy where all the work will be done accurately by the machines and
technology.
On one hand digital literacy acts as an important tool making lives easy but at the same time
there is a regular diminishing of the personal essence of oneself (Fraillon, Ainley, Schulz,
Friedman, and Gebhardt 69-71). I feel that everything has their pros and cons but maintaining
with the differences is the vital decision to make. A perfect balance between technology and
human needs is to be focused on.

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REFERENCES
“Telling Stories with Technology.” Technology & Learning 28.11 (2008): 62. Web.
Buck, Amber. “Examining Digital Literacy Practices on Social Network Sites.” Research in the
Teaching of English 47.1 (2012): 9-38. Web.
Fraillon, Julian, et al. “Preparing for life in a digital age: The IEA International Computer and
Information Literacy Study International Report.” (2014)
Guzzetti, Barbara. Handbook of Research on the Societal Impact of Digital Media. United States
of America: IGI Global, 2016. Print.
Heick, Terry. “The Definition of Digital Literacy.” teachthought, About Inc., 25 Dec.2015,
<https://www.teachthought.com/literacy/the-definition-of-digital-literacy/> Accessed 30
May 2018.
Tyner, Kathleen. Literacy in a Digital World: Teaching and Learning in the Age of Information.
Oxon: Routledge, 2009. Print.

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