About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

LOG IN
LOG IN


5 Int'l J. Soc. Sci. Stud. 90 (2017)
The Importance of Promoting Digital Literacy in Higher Education

handle is hein.journals/ijsoctu5 and id is 469 raw text is: International Journal of Social Science Studies Vol. 5, No. 6; June 2017 Fam e ISSN 2324-8033 E-ISSN 2324-8041 Published by Redfame Publishing URL: httpl/ijsss.redfame.com The Importance of Promoting Digital Literacy in Higher Education Ana Isabel Santos', Sandro Serpa2 1University of the Azores, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Centre for Childhood and Adolescence - NICA - Uac, Azores, Portugal 2University of the Azores, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences - CICS. UAc/CICS.NOVA. UAc, and Interdisciplinary Centre for Childhood and Adolescence - NICA - UAc, Portugal Correspondence: Sandro Serpa, University of the Azores, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Sociology, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal. Received: April 5, 2017 Accepted: May 23, 2017 Available online: May 24, 2017 doi: 10.111 14/ijsss.v5i6.2330 URL: https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v5i6.2330 Abstract At a time when there is free access to a multitude of information, the knowledge society entails the development and mobilisation of a set of competencies of selection and application of this knowledge in a reasoned and conscious way. It is in this context that higher education should develop its activities, and it is widely recognised that digital literacy encompasses the essential and transversal abilities to any higher level training, that translate into a good preparation for a successful future professionalization. However, sometimes this does not happen; hence, this short communication seeks to reflect on this problem that is central to the training activity in higher education, analysing some implications of this situation, as well as recommendations. Keywords: digital literacy, higher education, competencies 1. Introduction In a context of development and expansion of an increasingly digital society, training in competencies within the scope of Digital Literacy (DL) of higher education students becomes essential (Jeffrey et al., 2011); yet, it is often viewed as somethingthat is oftentaken for granted (Murray & P6rez, 2014, p. 95). This short communication seeks to discuss this problem, especially at a time when the characteristics of students joining higher education are different, both in terms of their training and in terms of their competencies, and also regarding their own expectations, behaviours and values (Andrade, 2016). Why the need to promote DLlearning in higher education? 2. Essential Relationship between the Development of Digital Literacy and the Promotion of a Scientific Culture in Higher Education Presently, we live in a society in which information is, in general, easily accessed by all citizens (Kivunja, 2015; Sparks, Katz, & Beile, 2016; Silva, Marcial, & Martins, 2016; Jeffrey et al., 2011), in what may be considered a digital society (Martin & Grudziecke, 2006, p. 249). However, Governments around the globe are recognizing the economic ramifications of a digitally literate citizenry and implementing systemic strategies to advance digital literacy (Murray & P6rez, 2014, p. 85). This means that access to information is not the same as access to knowledge. Nowadays, it is necessary to be able to select, from all this information, the one that is both true and of interest, so that the individual may form an informed opinion and may have and select options. This situation becomes especially important in higher education training, whereby students, but also teachers, have to situate consciously in the selection and decision-making on the scientific information that they openly have access to, and which should be guided by its rigor and control, both as a process and as a product. Even at the political level, the importance of training future professionals in both digital and scientific competencies is acknowledged (Murray & P6rez, 2014), both at the European level, and specifically in Portugal. Already in 2003, the European Commission acknowledged that The ability to use ICT and the Internet becomes a new form of literacy - 'digital literacy'. Digital literacy is 90