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Essay / Digital literacy: a powerful tool for educational change
Research from the National Literacy Trust (NLT) suggests that, overall, a large proportion of pupils of all ages enjoy writing. The 2009 study suggests that 45 percent of students enjoy writing (Clark & Dugdale, 2009), while the 2011 study shows a 2 percent increase. Improving writing standards by Vincent (2006), implies that given the existence of noytimtext in multimodal formats. However, digital literacy is not considered in many schools' literacy pedagogies and multimodal scaffolding is essential for some students to communicate their ideas effectively (p. 51). Today's education system depends to a large extent on information and communication technologies (ICT) and digital skills such as the Internet and social media, among others. Kent and Facer (2004) indicate that students engage in a wide range of computing activities and that, gradually, digital knowledge is successfully applied in instruction, learning and assessment. It has quickly become a powerful tool for changing and reshaping education. A number of studies have shown that appropriate use of digital skills improves the quality of education and connects learning to real-world situations (Lowther, et al. 2008; Weert and Tatnall 2005). Having a good understanding of what literacy is will help us design learning environments and teaching strategies to develop it (Kress, 2003: 23). Guymon (2014) points out that effective use of this 21st century technology involves becoming proficient in word-based communication and our ability to express ourselves and interpret the ideas of others through visual literacy. Students gain a deep understanding of concepts when they are encouraged and provided with the tools to create nonverbal representations of concepts. When combining...... middle of paper...... piece. Literacy, 40(1), 51-57. www.blackwell-synergy.comWalsh, M. (2009). Multimodal Literacy Project 2009. A joint project of the Catholic Education Office, Sydney and the School of Education NSW, Australian Catholic University. Strathfield, NSW: School of Education NSW, Australian Catholic University.Walsh, M. (2009). In Educational potentials of multimodal literacy. CA: IGI Global. Wheeler, S. (2009). Teaching with Twitter. http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/2009/01/teaching-with-twitter.html, last accessed April 11, 2014. Wheeler, S (2010). Lifelong learning in the digital age. Joint Conference on Learning and Teaching. Portsmouth: http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/. Last accessed March 28, 2014. Weert, T. & Tatnall, A., Eds. (2005). Information and communication technologies and real learning: a new education for the knowledge society. New York, Springer.