Technical And Digital Information Literacy Skills (QM Standard 1.6)

Overview

When participating in online courses, it is vital to consider the technical skills needed in order to have a successful course. Students in distance education courses must have knowledge of basic computer and Internet skills listed below.

*Note: Contact your professor if there are any additional technical knowledge or skills you may need in your course.

Computer Skills

Ability to access and use the internet
Navigating Canvas, posting on Discussion boards, opening/reading and replying to classmates’ Discussion posts, and taking quizzes
Ability to use the Canvas email system
Composing presentations using appropriate presentation software (i.e., PowerPoint)
Composing documents in Microsoft Word, integrating graphics/images/linking multimodal material, saving, downloading, linking, attaching, and uploading
Submitting informal and formal writing projects as Word links through Canvas
Using Zoom, Teams, and other relevant video conferencing tools.

Digital Information Literacy Skills

According to the 1989 Presidential Committee on Information Literacy, information literacy can be defined as the ability to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.”

In 2013, the American Library Association Digital Literacy Task Force. defined digital literacy as “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.”

Using online libraries and databases to locate and gather appropriate information
Utilize computer networks to locate and store files or data
Evaluating the credibility and suitability of online information sources
Using online search tools for specific academic purposes, including the ability to use search criteria, keywords, and filters
Properly citing and documenting information sources in APA format, including borrowed figures and images
Preparing a presentation of research findings
Utilize technologies to communicate and collaborate with peers

Required Basic Skills

Getting online.
Using an Internet browser.
Downloading, saving, opening, and printing material found online.
Conducting Internet searches.
Composing e-mail/course messages and attaching documents. (Canvas Student Help Link: Inbox)
Posting to a discussion forum. (Canvas Student Help Link: Discussions)
Submitting to a dropbox or assignment. (Canvas Student Help Link: Assignments)
Writing and editing with a word processor, such as MS Word.
Take online examinations.
Learning new computer skills.