Comments on: Buddha knows best, or why ‘digital literacy’ is so hard to pin down. http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/ Education. Technology. Productivity. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Digital Literacy, Pragmatism and the Social Construction of Reality at dougbelshaw.comhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1213 Digital Literacy, Pragmatism and the Social Construction of Reality at dougbelshaw.com Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:20:41 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-1213 [...] Buddha knows best, or why ‘digital literacy’ is so hard to pin down. var disqus_url = 'http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/10/04/digital-literacy-pragmatism-and-the-social-construction-of-reality/ '; var disqus_title = 'Digital Literacy, Pragmatism and the Social Construction of Reality'; var disqus_message = 'Note: This blog post is to clarify my thoughts on the subject and provide an easy point-of-reference as I begin to write the Literature Review section of my Ed.D. thesis. Feel free to skip it if that’s not the reason for which what you came here/subscribed to my RSS feed! You can read my thesis [...]%0A'; View the entire comment thread. « Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavour. Search [...] [...] Buddha knows best, or why ‘digital literacy’ is so hard to pin down. var disqus_url = ‘http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/10/04/digital-literacy-pragmatism-and-the-social-construction-of-reality/ ‘; var disqus_title = ‘Digital Literacy, Pragmatism and the Social Construction of Reality’; var disqus_message = ‘Note: This blog post is to clarify my thoughts on the subject and provide an easy point-of-reference as I begin to write the Literature Review section of my Ed.D. thesis. Feel free to skip it if that’s not the reason for which what you came here/subscribed to my RSS feed! You can read my thesis [...]%0A’; View the entire comment thread. « Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavour. Search [...]

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1206 Doug Belshaw Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:41:10 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-1206 But Marc, that's part of the point! If I spend time showing that 'digitalliteracy' (and other 'literacies') are no more than un-useful constructs, itsaves a lot of time and argument for others... :-) But Marc, that's part of the point! If I spend time showing that 'digitalliteracy' (and other 'literacies') are no more than un-useful constructs, itsaves a lot of time and argument for others… :-)

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-5272 Doug Belshaw Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:41:00 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-5272 But Marc, that's part of the point! If I spend time showing that 'digital literacy' (and other 'literacies') are no more than un-useful constructs, it saves a lot of time and argument for others... :-) But Marc, that’s part of the point! If I spend time showing that ‘digital
literacy’ (and other ‘literacies’) are no more than un-useful constructs, it
saves a lot of time and argument for others… :-)

]]> By: shefihttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1205 shefi Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:27:40 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-1205 I agree with Carl <a href="http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/#comment-1674770" rel="nofollow">http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/08/18/buddha-kn.....</a> What do you call someone who's "comfortable" programming a video or DVD recorder? Do you need a special term? And is it a particular skill that needs to be identified and named? Sorry to rain on your parade, but I suspect the search for a definition of digital literacy is a red herring. I agree with Carl http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/08/18/buddha-kn….. What do you call someone who's "comfortable" programming a video or DVD recorder? Do you need a special term? And is it a particular skill that needs to be identified and named? Sorry to rain on your parade, but I suspect the search for a definition of digital literacy is a red herring.

]]> By: shefihttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-5271 shefi Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:27:00 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-5271 I agree with Carl http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/#comment-1674770 What do you call someone who's "comfortable" programming a video or DVD recorder? Do you need a special term? And is it a particular skill that needs to be identified and named? Sorry to rain on your parade, but I suspect the search for a definition of digital literacy is a red herring. I agree with Carl http://www.dougbelshaw.com/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/#comment-1674770
What do you call someone who’s “comfortable” programming a video or DVD recorder? Do you need a special term? And is it a particular skill that needs to be identified and named? Sorry to rain on your parade, but I suspect the search for a definition of digital literacy is a red herring.

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1208 Doug Belshaw Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:08:08 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-1208 All good questions! At the moment, I share your scepticism aboutdefinitions of Digital Literacy.However, there *is* something about being comfortable in digitalenvironments. Perhaps it's a 'digital fluency'? All good questions! At the moment, I share your scepticism aboutdefinitions of Digital Literacy.However, there *is* something about being comfortable in digitalenvironments. Perhaps it's a 'digital fluency'?

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-5262 Doug Belshaw Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:08:00 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-5262 All good questions! At the moment, I share your scepticism about definitions of Digital Literacy. However, there *is* something about being comfortable in digital environments. Perhaps it's a 'digital fluency'? All good questions! At the moment, I share your scepticism about
definitions of Digital Literacy.

However, there *is* something about being comfortable in digital
environments. Perhaps it’s a ‘digital fluency’?

]]> By: Carl Andersonhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1207 Carl Anderson Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:54:57 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-1207 At what point is someone considered traditionally literate? Is it when they can read and write in their native tongue? Is it when they can read and write well in their native tongue? Is it when they can read and write in a variety of languages? To what degree does comprehension and critical analysis of text or a person's poetic or rhetorical abilities play into the definition of traditional literacy? Is a person digitally literate when they know how to use one operating system or one application or do they have to have understanding of multiple systems to be digitally literate? Do they have to understand binary and all the complexities that it creates? To what degree does use of these tools to achieve something or communicate come into play? At what point is there no separation between the traditional notions of literacy and digital literacy? The open source movement clearly views computer code as a form of communication worthy of being given the attributes associated with a form of free speech. I would argue that the term digital literacy is a useless term. The digital as it relates to literacy is a medium for conveying ideas and nothing more. We don't use the terms "Print Literacy," or "Hand Written Literacy," to differentiate between how well someone processes information in those different media. I don't know, maybe there was a similar debate back in the early days of the printing press. To me it makes more sense to view these kinds of literacies as information literacies. That term encompasses both the vague notions that people use to define digital literacy and those that are present in our traditional concept of literacy as well as bringing in other forms of literacy that are not often brought to bear when this topic is discussed but warrant our equal attention: visual literacy, emotional literacy, auditory literacy (music, voice, etc.), and to some degree metacognition. At what point is someone considered traditionally literate? Is it when they can read and write in their native tongue? Is it when they can read and write well in their native tongue? Is it when they can read and write in a variety of languages? To what degree does comprehension and critical analysis of text or a person's poetic or rhetorical abilities play into the definition of traditional literacy? Is a person digitally literate when they know how to use one operating system or one application or do they have to have understanding of multiple systems to be digitally literate? Do they have to understand binary and all the complexities that it creates? To what degree does use of these tools to achieve something or communicate come into play? At what point is there no separation between the traditional notions of literacy and digital literacy? The open source movement clearly views computer code as a form of communication worthy of being given the attributes associated with a form of free speech. I would argue that the term digital literacy is a useless term. The digital as it relates to literacy is a medium for conveying ideas and nothing more. We don't use the terms "Print Literacy," or "Hand Written Literacy," to differentiate between how well someone processes information in those different media. I don't know, maybe there was a similar debate back in the early days of the printing press. To me it makes more sense to view these kinds of literacies as information literacies. That term encompasses both the vague notions that people use to define digital literacy and those that are present in our traditional concept of literacy as well as bringing in other forms of literacy that are not often brought to bear when this topic is discussed but warrant our equal attention: visual literacy, emotional literacy, auditory literacy (music, voice, etc.), and to some degree metacognition.

]]> By: Carl Andersonhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-5261 Carl Anderson Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:54:00 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-5261 At what point is someone considered traditionally literate? Is it when they can read and write in their native tongue? Is it when they can read and write well in their native tongue? Is it when they can read and write in a variety of languages? To what degree does comprehension and critical analysis of text or a person's poetic or rhetorical abilities play into the definition of traditional literacy? Is a person digitally literate when they know how to use one operating system or one application or do they have to have understanding of multiple systems to be digitally literate? Do they have to understand binary and all the complexities that it creates? To what degree does use of these tools to achieve something or communicate come into play? At what point is there no separation between the traditional notions of literacy and digital literacy? The open source movement clearly views computer code as a form of communication worthy of being given the attributes associated with a form of free speech. I would argue that the term digital literacy is a useless term. The digital as it relates to literacy is a medium for conveying ideas and nothing more. We don't use the terms "Print Literacy," or "Hand Written Literacy," to differentiate between how well someone processes information in those different media. I don't know, maybe there was a similar debate back in the early days of the printing press. To me it makes more sense to view these kinds of literacies as information literacies. That term encompasses both the vague notions that people use to define digital literacy and those that are present in our traditional concept of literacy as well as bringing in other forms of literacy that are not often brought to bear when this topic is discussed but warrant our equal attention: visual literacy, emotional literacy, auditory literacy (music, voice, etc.), and to some degree metacognition. At what point is someone considered traditionally literate? Is it when they can read and write in their native tongue? Is it when they can read and write well in their native tongue? Is it when they can read and write in a variety of languages? To what degree does comprehension and critical analysis of text or a person’s poetic or rhetorical abilities play into the definition of traditional literacy? Is a person digitally literate when they know how to use one operating system or one application or do they have to have understanding of multiple systems to be digitally literate? Do they have to understand binary and all the complexities that it creates? To what degree does use of these tools to achieve something or communicate come into play?

At what point is there no separation between the traditional notions of literacy and digital literacy? The open source movement clearly views computer code as a form of communication worthy of being given the attributes associated with a form of free speech.

I would argue that the term digital literacy is a useless term. The digital as it relates to literacy is a medium for conveying ideas and nothing more. We don’t use the terms “Print Literacy,” or “Hand Written Literacy,” to differentiate between how well someone processes information in those different media. I don’t know, maybe there was a similar debate back in the early days of the printing press. To me it makes more sense to view these kinds of literacies as information literacies. That term encompasses both the vague notions that people use to define digital literacy and those that are present in our traditional concept of literacy as well as bringing in other forms of literacy that are not often brought to bear when this topic is discussed but warrant our equal attention: visual literacy, emotional literacy, auditory literacy (music, voice, etc.), and to some degree metacognition.

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/08/18/buddha-knows-best-or-why-digital-literacy-is-so-hard-to-pin-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1209 Doug Belshaw Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:38:07 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1112#comment-1209 Interesting that you think the definitions sound like they're targetedtowards testing. The more I think about standard 'literacy', the more I seethat it's a process rather than a state. It's just that we've devised teststhat define cut-off points that say whether someone is 'literate' or not.I suppose it's a bit like the English language proficiency tests thatforeign students have to take before stuying at UK universities. There's anarbitrary cut-off point, but that doesn't mean that learning and development(and, indeed, regression) doesn't take place.Perhaps a reasonable outcome for my thesis would be to define a similarcut-off point for 'digital literacy'? Interesting that you think the definitions sound like they're targetedtowards testing. The more I think about standard 'literacy', the more I seethat it's a process rather than a state. It's just that we've devised teststhat define cut-off points that say whether someone is 'literate' or not.I suppose it's a bit like the English language proficiency tests thatforeign students have to take before stuying at UK universities. There's anarbitrary cut-off point, but that doesn't mean that learning and development(and, indeed, regression) doesn't take place.Perhaps a reasonable outcome for my thesis would be to define a similarcut-off point for 'digital literacy'?

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