The five blue tabs to the left of this page relate to the five key areas of digital literacy which this guide can help you with.
Each tab contains a set of set of questions about your skills and abilities which you should ask yourself. For any areas where you feel your skills might need to be developed or improved, we provide links to online resources which can help with your development.
Watch Doug Belshaw's video, The essential elements of digital literacies
Duration: 17mins 28secs
Digital literacy is an umbrella term for a range of skills, behaviours and attitudes which equip a person for both academic study and employment. The term covers such things as IT skills, literature searching, critical evaluation skills, ethical behaviour and creativity.
Many digital literacy skills are learned as part of your curriculum, but many are also learned through personal engagement and experiences in using the Internet, social media and devices such as PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Digital literacy skills have a direct effect on your employability. Employers in the UK are looking for evidence of digital literacy among candidates for employment, and those who can function effectively as independent learners are likely to do well in the job market.
Being digitally literate is an indicator of your adaptability and your ability to learn new skills and behaviours. It also reflects high standards in behaviour with relation to technology and the law - a digitally literate person is ethical, responsible and culturally aware in their dealings with others.