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Digital Literacy

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Digital Literacy
Digital Literacy
ENG122: English Composition II
Angela Temple
January 20, 2014

In today’s world it is a requirement to be digitally literate in order to be able to function in a capacity that enables one to be more successful whether it is at home, school, at our jobs or even looking for a job. Over the last few decades our environment has evolved into a digital environment. Being or becoming digitally literate is essential in being successful in this digital environment. Almost everything we do today requires some sort of digital knowledge or literacy. From surfing the internet to searching for a job to being able to perform our jobs, we are required to have some sort of digital literacy in order to be successful. Dr. Judith Renyi, executive director of the Philadelphia Mayor's Commission on Literacy, said, "If you don't have digital literacy, you can't find a job, you can't apply for a job, you can't sustain a job." "Very soon you won't be able to function at any level without digital literacy” (Shamlin, 2013). The main focus of this essay is to stress the importance of being digitally literate, which includes electronic devices such as cell phones and iPads although the main focus is on computer literacy. It has been stated by Dr. Judith Reyni that “just about anything you’re going to do in life, you’re going to need these skills” (Shamlin, 2013). This statement alone should be a clue as to the importance of digital literacy today. In today’s market, the need to learn as much as we can about computers and their programs become more and more important. This importance can be compared to driving a car. Without the ability to drive a car, it can be very hard to get or hold a job due to the fact that it would be really hard to get to work. Most employers today even ask on the application as to whether or not you have reliable transportation. Well, being able to operate a computer to some



References: Bossert, P. J. (1999). Growing up digital: The rise of the net generation. National Association of Secondary School Principals.NASSP Bulletin, 83(607), 86-88. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/216032026?accountid=32521 Eshet-Alkalai, Y. (2004). Digital literacy: A conceptual framework for survival skills in the digital era. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 13(1), 93-106. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/205852670?accountid=32521 Kinzer, C. K. (2010). Considering literacy and policy in the context of digital environments. Language Arts, 88(1), 51-61. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/748977327?accountid=32521 Maria Del, R. B., & MacGillivray, L. (2008). For the family: One teen 's self-selected digital literacy practices. Language and Literacy, 10(2) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1428562169?accountid=32521 Shamlin,Wilford, I.,II. (2013, Sep 27). Digital literacy becoming essential tor job hunters. Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1449792829?accountid=32521

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