Nethaniel’s Blog – We don’t have enough digital literacy.
After the struggles of the weekend just gone and reading Nethaniel’s blog post, I got to thinking: Do young people really have a strong grasp of network literacy?
In my opinion, no, we do not. This weekend I took a road trip to the Dandenong Ranges with Michaela, Sarah and Sophie, some RMIT friends to explore some of the hidden treasures of the location. So, with two Sony MC50s, a tripod and a Zoom H4n we ventured out into the rainforests and tracks of Ferny Creek and Mount Dandenong and shot a whole bunch of fantastic natural gems. The first problem we encountered was when we needed to change the exposure on the cameras due to the strength of the sunlight that day. Phew, we worked that one out in a relatively quick amount of time considering we had four girls on the job! After spending many hours manipulating the cameras’ settings to get the most out of the beautiful scenery and interviews we were taking, it was finally over!
Well, that was until Monday morning, when it came to uploading the videos we’d taken and uploading them to a shared network so that each member in the group could view them and post their thoughts on which takes would make the final cut. It is safe to say that this was our biggest challenge, simply because we didn’t know HOW to go about organising this. Not one of us knew. So, we freaked out something shocking. We thought we’d safe our videos to a hard drive but the one member of our group who had the storage device was not coming in that day. So, we ended up saving the videos to a desktop of one computer in the RMIT labs, and crossed our fingers hoping for the best!
This got me to thinking about our course… we are entrusted with these technological devices which we barely know how to use. I completely get the importance of trial and error and experimentation when it comes to technology. Ultimately, this is probably the best way to learn how to use cameras, recording devices and computers. However, being one of the only ones in my Networks class who couldn’t log on to her blog or student directory for almost two weeks worries me (and embarasses me). We are expected, when we enter this course that we know how to create hypertexts, links online and webpages. We’re expected to know how to network both in reality and virtually. However, I’ve only been blessed with the former. Unfortunately, having only studied one semester of IT in year 7, which is going back more than 7 years now, the term and devices used to network have changed somewhat dramatically. And, many of us have and will continue to be left behind if we’re not constantly trying to keep up.
Some people have the right personality to do trial and error all day long. Not me. I am busier than ever now and, now that we’re being honest, impatient. When I have an idea of how to use something, I become intrigued to find out more. For example I learnt how to play three chords on acoustic guitar back in year 8, and since then I’ve managed to teach myself and can now proficiently play almost all chords. But, without this first step of guidance, I struggle to begin my learning. Even some inspiration helps me to start. But, no, none around here. And, despite realising now, at uni, that I was almost completely network illiterate, I have managed to fall through the cracks throughout my latter years of high school. The only network I was taking part in was Facebook and my group of friends and extended friends. I knew how to make links in reality, but not on the network platform.
As Nethanial points out, we know how to read a book, how it is designed, how to content is edited and transferred onto the page, bound and manufactured. But, we don’t know how networks are designed, let alone produced. So, even “as we progress through the digital age”, we are almost completely illiterate on a digital network platform. As technology is changing and evolving so rapidly, I think it is important that we learn how to use these platforms and about how they are designed and made in high school and in the early years of our university courses. While we’re on that note: please can we also learn how to use the other devices we’re using PLEASE?!