Digital Literacy in Middle School: Teachers' Conceptualization and Practices in the Classroom

• In Event: Studies of Technology and Social, Emotional, or Motivational Constructs

Abstract

Learning and teaching with technology relies on cognitive and socio-emotional skills, commonly known as Digital Literacy (DL). In this study, we explored middle-school teachers' conceptualization of DL and their practices for promoting students' DL skills. Semi-structured interviews with 25 teachers were analyzed thematically based on two theoretical frameworks. About half of teachers' statements conceptualized DL as cognitive and socio-emotional skills, while the rest referred to basic technical skills and pedagogical knowledge. The most frequent practices were related to information skills – critical thinking. Taken together, middle-school teachers' perception of DL is simplistic, which limits the practices they use to promote students' DL skills. Changes in educational policy should foster a broader understanding of DL and increase effective practices used by teachers.

Authors

• Gal Ben-Yehudah, The Open University of Israel

• Miriam Moyal, The Open University of Israel

• Yoram Eshet-Alkalai, The Open University of Israel