Part 1: Prepare

Technology has never been my forte. However, I can competently operate the general functions of a computer and I understand computers enough to be able to communicate through them. I don’t consider myself an expert within the digital media because compared to numerous others, such as my older brother that has a major in Computer Programming, I do not know nearly as much. Nevertheless, I know the average amount needed for school, home, or work, and amongst the general population I consider myself computer literate. I am able to properly function an e-mail account, and communicate with others using Instant Messengers. I maintain a couple of blogs online, including one that is shared with three other people. In addition, I have a Youtube account and I know how to record, edit, and upload a video to the site. Throughout my high school career until now, I have owned a laptop and I can properly manage the programs it has, such as Microsoft Office, Movie Maker, Media Player, Windows Power Point, and Paint. Recently, I have learned to use Adobe Photo Shop and Flash, and I was able to learn fairly quickly with the help of my older brother. In the same manner, I learned to master other programs, navigate the Internet, and can even create my own website.

In other areas, I would like to improve. For example, I would like to be able to know more about protecting my computers against virus and set up firewalls. I don’t always know the terminology used in the digital world, and I would like to learn more of them to efficiently communicate with even the most avid users. Cell phones have never survived long with me, and I’m not quite sure why; I don’t drop them often and I try to take care of them but somehow they always tend to have complications that are out of my control. I would like to be able to learn about managing a cell phone and the different components of a cell phone that can be easily fractured so that I can be able to be more cautious in that area. I would like to learn to use a Mac because I have used Windows ever since I can remember using a computer. I would like to own an Iphone and learn to use it proficiently. Thus, in various areas of technology I am savvy, such as Windows programs and online communication, but in other areas I would like to know more such as the terminology and Apple appliances.

Promoting Literacy In A Digital Age

In the article, Promoting Literacy In A Digital Age: Approaches To Training For Information Literacy, David Bawden and Lyn Robinson present the benefits of literacy in today’s world, even within the advancement of technology. The article promotes the advantages literacy has in a world that continues to move into the future at a high-speed pace, and it argues that information literacy, and other branches of literacy such as, digital literacy, mediacy, and informacy, become a needed base of knowledge, skills and attitudes at various levels. Bawden and Robinson urge to convince the reader that literacy enhances the ability to deal with information in a range of subjects and various situations. The article implies that understanding the concepts of information literacy, digital literacy, mediacy, and informacy, implies that learning was equally broad, varied, and context sensitive. It promotes the idea that literacy is a primary tool to advancing our knowledge in every field of study, and that the advancement of technology was made through literacy.

The article communicates its argument to a broad audience, ranging from any age group that might consider the level of necessity literacy has in today’s digital world. The argument is to convince the audience that literacy remains important to operate the digital world, and the writers use logical-based arguments by including two case studies that supports their argument. The first case study consisted of a training programme in information literacy for the research workers in a multinational pharmaceutical, and the second case involved a summer school working with digital literacy. The case studies express a logo appeal within the article, suiting the logical side of the argument. Carefully, it is explained the studies made to promote literacy in a digital age, and they are presented to be rational for the reader. The studies explain the necessity of literacy within the digital world. The article’s purpose is to prove that literacy is the core to the success of the digitized world, and the authors direct their argument to the general public but most importantly to those that believe literacy is not as important as it once was. The article, through logical senses, desires to prove that literacy is essential in today’s digital age and that training is needed to proceed in the branch of digital literacy.