"Why would anyone need instruction in digital literacy?"

One of my favorite Twitter Pals asked last week, "Why would anyone need instruction in digital literacy?"  Some people might think that Digital Natives, (defined here as anyone under 25) do not need instruction in digital tools or on gathering information when there is clearly so much available to them.  Which probably sounds like a really good idea to those people who think that we no longer need educators either.  While some digital tools are indeed intuitive and there is a vast amount of information available online, children still need someone to teach them application, theory and ethics.

Let's just start with the tools themselves.  In the last five years alone we have gone from desktops to laptops and then handheld devices.  The devices are not only getting smaller, but lighter and more compact.  Also more powerful.  You can now access online tools and games from almost anywhere you can get a signal. Teaching students to integrate new tools into their learning is essential for continued growth and development as learners.  Helping them to apply those tools into learning situations will teach them to be adaptive in real work situations when they graduate.

Since students can receive information anywhere, this means that learning doesn't have to begin and end with a school day.  Most students I know are becoming hybrid learners.  They don't just learn in the classroom, part of their learning is done online.  Secondary schools and Universities are putting their lectures online as podcasts.  Students can watch these podcasts from some of the best teachers in the world about subjects they are interested in, but when it comes time for them to explain what they have heard, most will not be able to.  Why?  Because just hearing and seeing is not enough.  Students need to interract with a teacher in discussions, enforce content of an online lecture through reading and apply new learning to a product so that it can be synthesized into their experience. In theory students can get all the information they need to create something, but without instruction will they?

Finally let's talk ethics.  Children are dying in our country because we underestimated the power of Internet Communications.  Sexting, Social Networking, Cyberbullying...All of these opportunities for students who have not been told that something is wrong to get themselves in deep trouble.  So my question is, "Why wouldn't anyone need instruction in digital literacy?"

-AMA