Literacy the passport to digital citizenry

As the opportunities wrought by technology continue to increase, digital literacy among Kenyans is critical.

Without it, we can’t compete. We can only spectate.

To take advantage of those opportunities, we have to have the skills and the confidence of digital citizens.

Digital literacy skills should not just be mastered by the young, the rich or the elite, neither are they a preserve of those who enjoy hustle-free Internet connections.

POPULATION

The skills should spread across the entire population, just the same way wealth should spread out.

Digital literacy knowledge, skills, and behaviours mean effective use of digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers for purposes of communication, expression, collaboration and advocacy.

While digital literacy initially focused on skills and stand-alone computers, this has now shifted to network devices including the Internet and social media.

SUITABILITY

That is why projects such as the school lap-top and computer programme makes a lot of sense if well implemented and proper structures laid to guarantee suitability.

The enthusiasm that beams on the faces of children when they get computers in their hands goes well beyond the learning expected from their use.

These gadgets wire kids with the confidence necessary for digital “natives”.

Digital natives possess innate ability to understand and utilise digital devices and applications merely because of their youth.

TECHNOLOGY

This ability comes from the fact that these children have grown up surrounded by technology, in ways that older folks never will.

Many students today, even those in remote enclaves, are native speakers of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet.

As a result, today’s students think and process information in fundamentally differently ways from their predecessors.

In contrast, those of us who were not born into the digital world, but have at some later point in our lives become fascinated by and adopted many aspects of the new technology, are “digital immigrants”.

DIGITAL SPACE

The government’s ‘lap top-per-child’ programme put children on the path for competing with others from around the world on the digital space.

It changes their thinking and their outlook of life.

The County of Kisumu, under the stewardship of its Communication, Information and Technology executive, Mr Michael Onyango, has an innovative digital literacy programme.

The programme is designed for people who are usually left out in such trainings.

MENIAL JOBS

That is, young men and women who never went beyond Form Four level of education and are involved in menial jobs, yet make the majority of the county’s workforce.

These people gain literacy on how to use most of the features on their phones to access the Internet and use applications that can help them gain more useful information, run their small businesses or connect with friends and relatives on social media platforms.

These skills are empowering. Those who are digitally literate are more likely to be economically secure.

MIGRATE

Digital skills open learners’ eyes to more opportunities.

They help learners to gradually migrate from being mere spectators to partakers and contributors of the digital economy.

With these skills, the learners acquire “passports’ to be bona fide digital citizens.

A digital citizen has the ability to be active in online environments.

DEMOCRACY

Digital literacy promotes democracy by giving access to a vast repository of knowledge.

It also provides a platform from which to speak out and make your views heard. It reduces dependence on others for information.

Those lacking digital literacy will continue to watch and cheer as digital citizens take over the world. How sad!

The writer is an informatics specialist. [email protected]. @samwambugu2