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Leiden University Career Zone

Digital literacy
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Digital literacy

Basic IT knowledge, media literacy, provision of information.

By digital literacy we mean the efficient, effective and responsible use of IT. The key elements of this skill are a combination of: 

Basic IT knowledge: 

  • understanding the basic concepts and fundamentals of computers and computer networks; recognising, setting up and using hardware; using standard office applications (word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software); using software on mobile devices; using the internet (browsing, emails); being aware of, and dealing with, security and privacy issues. 
  • computational thinking: a thought process in which problem formulation, as well as organising, analysing and presenting information, is used to resolve problems with the help of IT tools and techniques; 

Media literacy: 
The following knowledge, skills and mentality are essential if you want to be aware, critical and active when dealing with media: 

  • understanding: insight into the growing role of media in our society, understanding how media are created, realising that media can distort reality; 
  • use: using devices, software and applications, getting to know the media environment; 
  • communication: finding and processing information, creating content, participating in social networking (social media); 
  • strategy: reflecting on your own media use, achieving goals through media; 

Provision of information: 
Being able to identify and analyse the need for information and, on the basis of this, search, select, process and use relevant information: 

  • defining the problem;
  • searching for sources;
  • selecting sources and information; 
  • processing information; 
  • presenting information. 
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Digital literacy and why it is important:

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