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What is Digital Literacy?

In our contemporary digital world, the acquisition of skills that help us navigate the internet is becoming increasingly important. Digital literacy, therefore, is the parameter indicating the effective use of those skills making us proficient digital, empowered citizens.

As members of our academic community, both students and faculty members are provided with technological tools designed to enhance both teaching and learning. Therefore, alignment with institutional standards for the effective use of these tools is necessary to create a healthy, safe and productive learning environment.

Our competencies framework comprises 5 fundamental areas inspired by the ISTE Standards  for Students and Educators:

Content creators: The creation of content, such as presentations, papers, and spreadsheets, is an essential skill for digital learners. During your studies, you will frequently need to produce many types of documents for different assignments and projects. Therefore, the appropriate use of the tools provided by the university will be essential for your academic success. 

 

Digital cooperators: The internet has made global collaboration more accessible, overcoming the limitations imposed by time and distance. Thanks to that, a new era of collaboration has opened up for anyone working on joint projects. Therefore, collaborative tools like shared documents and online spaces are fundamental for thriving academically.

 

Effective communicators: The internet has dramatically expanded our ability to connect with others, becoming essential for both personal and official communication management. Therefore, the correct and appropriate use of institutional communication systems is an indispensable standard that every member of our community should meet. 

 

Empowered learners: The abundance of online information is reshaping education and its delivery. The goal of a digital education is to equip students with the tools for a lifelong learning, seeking out information effectively and responsibly. 

 

Safe users: Naturally, the extent of exposure to the internet is directly proportional to the exposure to its inherent risks. For this reason, safe digital citizenship education is a fundamental component of every educational program. 

What is Information Literacy ?

Information literacy is a critical component of a thriving academic community. It empowers students and faculty members to navigate the vast digital landscape, discern credible and reliable sources, and effectively utilize technological tools. By fostering information literacy, we foster a culture of inquiry, critical thinking, and empowered digital citizenship. This set of skill is not only essential for academic success but also prepares individuals to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

 

The ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education identifies six core concepts, namely:

  • Authority is constructed and contextual
  • Information creation as a process
  • Information has value
  • Research as inquiry
  • Scholarship as conversation
  • Searching as strategic exploration

 

To ensure that these standards are met and shared by our community members, AUF offers online learning modules available on the institutional platform MyAUF, structured into three sections:

  • Module 1: Computer and Digital Literacy
  • Module 2: Introduction to Information Literacy: Effective Research and Citations
  • Module 3: Introduction to Academic Writing: Clarity, Criticality, Coherence

 

Upon completing these workshops, students will gain a solid understanding of digital and information literacy, and academic writing, conventions, research skills, and critical thinking. Completion of this course is mandatory for all freshmen students within their first semester. Please find below the timeline for the module completion:

  • Module 1: by the end of week 3 of the 15-week semester
  • Module 2: by the end of week 9
  • Module 3: by the end of week 15

For further information, please contact our library staff (library@auf-florence.org) or your assigned academic advisor. 

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