Michele Brannon-Hamilton's Blog

Technological Literacy
Michele Brannon-Hamilton

Definition
Technological literacy means being literate in the area of technology. This includes understanding, evaluating and using technology to communicate, create and problem solve.

Specifically, technological literacy is the ability to do the following:

1. Determine what technology is available.
2. Understand how to use technology.
3. Assess and evaluate technology.
4. Adapt to technological changes.

Importance to Educational Technology
The term technological literacy helps distinguish between those who have the ability to understand, assess, evaluate and use technology effectively from those who can simply use a computer.

As technology becomes more complex, technologically literate people will be able to adapt and function in society effectively. Technologically literate instructors can facilitate the use of technology in the classroom, thereby teaching students how to become technologically literate themselves.

Effective pedagogy can bridge the gap (or digital divide) between those who are technologically literate and those who are illiterate. By using the principles of educational technology, educators can prepare students for a world of technological change.

Furthermore, educators will need to consider the causes and effects of technological illiteracy both on individuals and society.

Explanation and Historical Development
Traditionally, literacy meant the ability to communicate through reading, writing and speaking. With the advent of computers, the definition of literacy began to change. While literacy educators recognized the importance of computers in every day life, there was a lack of consensus as to how computers should be incorporated into the definition of literacy.

For example, some definitions of literacy described computers as a tool that people used to communicate, much like a pen and paper. Other definitions considered computer skills a separate and new form of literacy; therefore, the original definition of literacy expanded to include the terms computer literacy and technological literacy which included the ability to use a phone, fax, photocopier or a computer.

In recent years, there has been a move from the term literacy toward the terms essential skills and technological literacy. Essential skills builds on the original definition of literacy but includes critical thinking skills and computer usage. Technological literacy refers to the complex process of critically thinking about technology in order to use it effectively. Technologically literate people understand what technology is available, how to use it and when to use it. These skills empower people to adapt to the constant changes of technology.

Related Terms
1. Literacy: reading, writing and speaking (may include numeracy and computer skills)
2. Functional Literacy: acquiring sufficient literacy skills in order to function in society
3. Technacy: understanding, evaluating and using technology effectively (may be interchangeable with the term technological literacy)
4. Computer Literacy: using the computer to communicate
5. Multimedia Literacy: being technologically literate with various types of multimedia

Further Reading
Technically Speaking What is Tech Lit? (n.d.). Retrieved September 2009, from National Academy of Engineering
http://www.nae.edu/nae/techlithome.nsf/weblinks/CTON-557R5G?OpenDocument

Technacy replacing Literacy (n.d.) Retrieved September 2009, from Kairosnews
http://kairosnews.org/technacy-replacing-literacy

SETDA National Leadership Institute Toolkit (n.d.) Retrieved September 2009, from SETDA http://www.setda.org/toolkit/nlitoolkit/TLA/tla02.htm