DEFINING DIGITAL FLUENCY  

 
Compare and contrast different definitions (from literature and government documents) of digital literacy and digital 
fluency. 

Digital Fluency  Digital Literacy 

Definition (TKI) - A digitally fluent person can decide ​when​ to  Definition (TKI) - ​A digitally literate person knows ​how​ to use digital 
use specific digital technologies to achieve their desired  technologies and ​what​ to do with them. 
outcome. They can articulate ​why​ the tools they are using   
will provide their desired outcome.  

Differences   Similarities  Differences  

Being able to analyse and evaluate, or  They work together - students need to be literate  A conceptual understanding of the 
share wisdom.   before become fluent.   application of digital skills 
    (Spencer, 2015). Do I know HOW and 
Skills and knowledge not only to know    WHAT?   
what applications to use and how to use   
use them.   Having the skills to know what 
  applications to use (not the how to 
Digital fluency is about creating,  use).  
re-mixing, and producing content.  
 
Compare three different digital literacy frameworks of skills, competencies and critical approaches - and provide at 
least one strength and one weakness for each framework. 
 
  What is it?  Strengths  Weaknesses 

British  Breaks it down into 6 different  Broad aspects that cater to many areas  The how - many of these are 
Columbia  areas/aspects:   of digital literacy.   quite complex (e.g. learning how 
Digital Literacy  1. Research Information and    to debug programmes). How 
Framework   Technology   Each area is broken down in great detail  can we ensure teachers know 
2. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving,  with a range of learning objectives for  how to teach these many 
and Decision Making   the students to reflect upon.   objectives.   
3. Creativity and Innovation  
4. Digital Citizenship  
 5. Communication and Collaboration  
6. Technology Operations and 
Concepts 
 
More information can be found at 
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/edu
cation/kindergarten-to-grade-12/teach
/teaching-tools/digital-literacy-framew
ork.pdf  

JISC Developing  7 elements to developing digital  Addresses digital literacy in  Principles are very broad. 
Digital  literacies:   organisations and the implications on  Appears to be no breakdown of 
Literacies  1. Media Literacy   leadership.   what each of these principles 
2. Information Literacy     are.  
3. Digital Scholarship   Aimed at tertiary level education but 
4. Learning Skills   principles could be adapted to younger 
5. ICT Literacy   years.  
6. Career and Identity Management  
7. Communications and 
Collaboration  
 
More information can be found at  
https://www.jisc.ac.uk/full-guide/develo
ping-digital-literacies  

Media Smart  Seven principles   Very, very in-depth framework for digital  Very narrow - it is solely based 
(Canada) Digital  1. Ethics and Empathy   citizenship. Looks at many different  around digital citizenship, 
Literacy  2. Privacy and Security   areas within digital citizenship that are  whereas the other frameworks 
Framework   3. Community Engagement   important to ensuring our students are  have digital citizenship as one 
4. Digital Health   safe online.   aspect.  
5. Consumer Awareness      
6. Finding and Verifying   This framework offers activities for 
7. Making and Remixing   teachers to use in class, that link across 
  multiple principles.  
More information can be found at  
http://mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resour
ces/digital-literacy-framework/digital-li
teracy-framework-grades-k-3  
 

References:
http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Teaching/Digital-fluency
http://blog.core-ed.org/blog/2015/10/what-is-digital-fluency.html
http://www.futureworkiq.com/single-post/2017/11/24/Digital-Literacy-vs-Digital-Fluency
http://cristurple.blogspot.com/2017/03/digital-literacy-vs-digital-fluency.html