Digital and
Media Literacy

The resources you use in your LINC classes form a critical part of your learners’ language learning experience. In our increasingly digital and media focused world, many activities and tasks include digital and or media content. Language learners are increasingly exposed to this content at home, in the community and in the workplace. Therefore, including it in the LINC classroom is an important part of real world, task-based language instruction.

Digital and media literacy is the ability to access, critically examine and use digital content (online tools and platforms) and media content (print, radio, television or online). Developing learners’ digital and media literacy allows them to learn and use language while gaining understanding of the content and the medium itself (print, radio, television or online).

Learners using digital and or media content require critical thinking skills to analyze both the message and the messenger. These skills should be explicitly taught alongside grammar, vocabulary and other language learning activities. By embedding appropriate digital and media literacy in real-world tasks, skill-building activities, skill-using tasks and assessment in the LINC classroom, you are empowering learners to develop transferable real-world skills.

As an instructor, you can introduce the challenges and benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as well as the use of misinformation in media content. AI is now easily accessible and learners are exposed daily to misinformation in the form of fake news, biased media, advertising and potential scams. At Stage II, you can teach learners how to examine news headlines for perspective framing (for example, strategies used for clickbait, to sensationalise, to temper tone and so on). Teaching learners at all levels to recognize biased, persuasive and manipulative use of language empowers them to be savvy content consumers and creators.

You need to consider learners’ digital skills and may need to include explicit instruction or practice to address skills gaps. You can find ready-made modules on digital citizenship and digital skills on Tutela and using the Course Builder feature on Avenue. Avenue (or other learning management systems) can be used to create online skill-building activities, skill-using assessments and real-world tasks using authentic digital or media content. Learners with established digital skills can share their own experience and knowledge, or even serve as peer mentors in these activities. Remember that language level and digital skills may not be parallel. Learners with lower language skills may have higher digital skills and vice-versa. You should also consider equity with regard to digital and media literacy to ensure that learners have access to devices and Wi-Fi.