Digital Literacy
Description:
The digital divide is seen as the gap between people that have access to and know about computers and those that are far behind or will never use such devices. It is often thought to be a socio-economic phenomenon and is expected to further alienate less developed citizens and the developing countries.
As the divide separating basic individual skills and ICT skills requirements in society widens, throughout the last decades a large number of digital literacy initiatives have been developed. For example, in 1989 the International Development of Computer Education (IDCE) program was established. It was the goal of the IDCE to increase access to basic computers for educational purposes in developing countries, where often there is no public access to computer technology. The program aimed to increase basic computer skills and encourage computer education.
In 1995 the European Commission set up an initiative to raise the level of IT skills in industry. As a result the Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS) task force was founded that launched the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) across Europe in 1996. Later this was also rolled out internationally as the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) and has become the global benchmark for end-user computer certification. Another initiative is IC³, the first global internet and computing literacy measurement standard that was launched in 2002.
Such digital literacy initiatives clearly deliver benefits for a range of groups, from children in education, to underserved populations, to employees and corporations, workforces and even nations seeking skills to increase their economic opportunities. Digital literacy is thus a means that will offer opportunities to people and even will become increasingly necessary to function in a digital economy. It is however uncertain how quick and widespread the development of digital literacy globally will be, but in turn it will definitely affect the development of the internet and its applications.
Enablers:
Factors which strengthen this driving force. 1. Lower costs of chips and computers 2. Aging of population 3. Economic growth 4. Governmental stimulus 5. Private donors 6. Improved inter-governmental relationships
Inhibitors:
Factors which weaken this driving force. 1. Wider economic divide 2. Inadequate e-governance initiatives 3. Low literacy levels 4. Baby boom in developed countries
Paradigms:
Old: Productivity is crucial
New: Digital literacy is crucial in the digital era
Experts:
Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)
Timing:
1999 establishment of International Development of Computer Education (IDCE) program
1996 launch of European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
2001 First World Computer Literacy Day
2002 launch of IC³
Web Resources:
Council of European Professional Informatics Societies