This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view. (September 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable, independent, third-party sources. (September 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Web literacy refers to the skills and competencies needed for reading, writing, and participating on the web.[1] It has been described as "both content and activity" meaning that web users should not just learn about the web but also about how to make their own website.[2]

History of the concept

In the late 1990s, literacy researchers began to explore the differences between printed text and the network-enabled devices with screens. This research was largely focused on two areas: the credibility of information that can be found on the World Wide Web[3] and the difference that hypertext makes to reading and writing.[4] These skills were included in definitions of information literacy and included in a SCONUL position paper in 1999.[5] This paper became the '7 Pillars of Information Literacy', which was last updated in 2011.[6]

Web Literacy Map

Web Literacy Map v1.1.0

The Mozilla Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to promote openness, innovation and participation on the Internet. It has created a Web Literacy Map[1] in consultation with a community of stakeholders from formal and informal education, as well as industry.[7] [1] Work on what was originally entitled a Web Literacy 'Standard' began in early 2013. Version 1.0 was launched at the Mozilla Festival later that year.[8] Going forward, 'standard' was seen to be problematic and against the ethos of what the Mozilla community was trying to achieve.[9]

Literacy Version 1.1 of the Web Literacy Map was released in early 2014[10] and underpins the Mozilla Foundation's Webmaker resources section, where learners and mentors can find activities that help teach related areas. Although the Web Literacy Map is a list of strands, skills and competencies, it is most commonly represented as a competency grid.

The Mozilla community finalized the version 1.5 of the Web Literacy Map at the end of March 2015.[11] This involves small changes to the competencies layer and a comprehensive review of the skills they contain.[12]

Exploring

(Navigating the Web)

Building

(Creating the Web)

Connecting

(Participating on the Web)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Mozilla Web Literacy Map v1.1.0
  2. ^ Davidson, C.N. & Surman, M. "Why Web Literacy Should Be Part of Every Education", Fast Company. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. ^ Detweiler, M. C., Hess, S. M., & Peck, A. C. (1996, October). Acquiring User-Centered Design Skills by Designing and Evaluating World Wide Web Pages. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (Vol. 40, No. 8, pp. 459-462). SAGE Publications
  4. ^ Snyder, I., & Joyce, M. (Eds.). (1998). Page to screen: Taking literacy into the electronic era. Psychology Press.
  5. ^ SCONUL Advisory Committee on Information Literacy (1999) Information skills in higher education: a SCONUL position paper. Prepared by the Information Skills Task Force, on behalf of SCONUL.
  6. ^ SCONUL. (2011). 7 Pillars of Information Literacy Core Model. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  7. ^ Belshaw, D.A.J. & Smith, K.L. "Why Mozilla cares about Web Literacy". Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  8. ^ Web Literacy Standard 1.0 from Mozilla. BoingBoing. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  9. ^ The Web Literacy Standard is dead (long live the Web Literacy Map!). Doug Belshaw's blog. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  10. ^ Why the Web Literacy Map will remain at v1.1 until MozFest. Mozilla Webmaker blog. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  11. ^ Building version 1.5 of Mozilla’s Web Literacy Map. Mozilla Webmaker blog. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  12. ^ Help us redefine the skills underpinning three Web Literacy Map competencies!. Literaci.es. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
Categories