What Is Digital Literacy? A Clear Guide for Educators
More than technology skills, this guide clarifies what digital literacy means, how it appears in classrooms, and why it matters for students.
Digital literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, use and create information in digital spaces thoughtfully and responsibly.
It focuses on how people make decisions online—not just which tools they use or how comfortable they are with technology.
The term “digital literacy” is widely used in education, but it’s often defined in different ways. Some people use it to mean basic technology skills. Others use it interchangeably with media literacy or critical thinking. As a result, the phrase can feel vague or overloaded, even though the skills behind it are concrete and teachable.
Digital literacy matters in schools because so much learning, communication and civic participation now takes place in digital spaces. From researching current events to collaborating on shared documents or evaluating claims online, students are constantly asked to make judgments about information, sources and credibility. These skills shape how students learn, communicate, and participate in school and beyond.
Why Do People Talk About Digital Literacy So Much?
This term comes up often because digital tools are part of nearly every aspect of students’ lives. Schoolwork takes place online. Communication is made through platforms. Information flows through search engines, feeds and shared documents.
As a result, students are expected to navigate digital environments long before they are explicitly taught how those environments work. Digital literacy helps close that gap by naming the skills and habits students need to learn effectively and responsibly in those spaces.
What Does ‘Digital Literacy’ Actually Mean?
Rather than focusing on specific tools or platforms, this concept describes how people interact with digital information and systems.
It includes skills such as:
- Searching for information strategically
- Evaluating the quality and credibility of sources
- Understanding how information is shared and stored
- Creating and communicating responsibly online
At its core, digital literacy is about judgment. It’s about knowing when to pause, what to question and how to make informed choices in digital spaces.
Quick Definition for Students
Digital literacy means knowing how to use technology in smart, safe and responsible ways—not just knowing how to click buttons.
What Digital Literacy Is—and Is Not
Because the term is used so broadly, it’s often misunderstood.
Digital literacy is:
- About skills and habits, not just tools
- Focused on decision-making in digital environments
- Relevant across subjects and grade levels
Digital literacy is not:
- The same as being “good with technology”
- A checklist of apps or platforms
- Something students automatically learn by growing up online
Comfort with screens does not equal understanding how digital systems work.
How Digital Literacy Compares to Related Skills
- Digital literacy
Focus: Using digital tools and spaces responsibly and effectively
In practice: How you search, share, protect and create online - Media literacy
Focus: Analyzing and interpreting messages
In practice: Who made this, why, and how it’s trying to influence me - Critical thinking
Focus: Reasoning and judgment across contexts
In practice: How you decide what to believe or do - Technology skills
Focus: Operating tools and devices
In practice: Knowing which buttons to click
Key takeaway: These areas overlap, but digital literacy focuses specifically on how people operate within digital systems and environments.
What Does Digital Literacy Look Like in Real Life?
In practice, these skills show up in everyday tasks students complete both in and out of school.
For example, students demonstrate digital literacy when they:
- Choose credible sources during online research
- Collaborate responsibly in shared documents
- Adjust privacy settings intentionally
- Cite digital media and images correctly
- Pause before sharing or reposting information
These moments often go unnoticed, but they are where digital literacy is learned. For younger students, age-appropriate guidance about online safety can help reinforce these habits.
Quick Classroom Check
Ask students:
- How did you decide which source to use?
- Who else can see this document?
- What would happen if this post were shared more widely?
If students struggle to answer, that’s a digital literacy moment.
What Does Digital Literacy Mean in Education?
In education, this set of skills and habits supports how students learn and communicate in digital spaces. It comes into play whenever students research online, work in shared documents, evaluate digital sources, or create and submit work using technology.
In classrooms, the focus is less on mastering specific tools and more on everyday choices. Students decide which sources to trust, how to collaborate with others, how to protect personal information, and how to represent ideas accurately in digital formats.
Because digital tools are used across subjects, these skills do not belong to one course or department. They support reading, writing, research, collaboration and discussion throughout the curriculum.
When Is Digital Literacy Misunderstood?
Confusion often comes from how broadly the term is used. It’s sometimes treated as a one-time lesson, a technology checklist, or a stand-alone subject.
In reality, digital literacy develops through repeated practice. It grows when students are asked to explain their choices, reflect on sources and think about the impact of their actions online.
Why Does Digital Literacy Matter for Students?
These skills affect how students learn, communicate and participate in shared spaces.
When students build strong digital literacy habits, they are better prepared to:
- Learn independently
- Collaborate effectively
- Navigate information responsibly
- Participate thoughtfully in school and community life
These benefits extend well beyond individual assignments or classes. International education organizations have also emphasized the role of digital learning in supporting access, participation and informed engagement across communities.
How Can Educators Support Digital Literacy Without Adding More Content?
The most effective approaches fit naturally into existing lessons rather than being taught as separate units.
This can include:
- Modeling how you evaluate sources
- Naming digital decisions out loud
- Building simple routines around research, collaboration or attribution
- Using shared language across classes
Small, consistent practices matter more than one large lesson. Check out more ideas in our dedicated collection.
Recap: What Digital Literacy Really Means
In short:
- It focuses on how people make decisions in digital spaces, not just how they use tools.
- It includes skills related to searching, evaluating information, collaborating and creating responsibly.
- It supports learning across subjects, not just technology classes.
- It overlaps with media literacy and critical thinking, while remaining distinct.
These habits show up in the decisions students make as they research, collaborate and share information.
Educators looking for classroom-ready ways to support this work can explore digital literacy lessons and resources available on Share My Lesson in the box below.
Explore Digital Literacy Resources
Looking for classroom-ready ways to strengthen these skills? Browse our collection of digital literacy lessons, activities, and professional learning resources designed for grades 6–12.
Andy Kratochvil is a proud member of the AFT Share My Lesson team, where he’s passionate about discovering and sharing top-tier content with educators across the country. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and French from California State University, Fullerton, and later completed... See More
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