Multimedia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Multimedia - Essay Example Digital information refers to the system of information based on discontinuous data or events. In addition, digital literacy defines the overall ability of identifying, utilizing, evaluating, creating, and manipulating information using digital technology, which incorporates the use of discrete and discontinuous values. Such data is expressed in terms of strings of zeroes and ones i.e. 0’s and 1’s, where each of these state digits being referred as a binary digit (Anon, 2009). The emergence of digital information has resulted in the introduction of and adoption of digital technology, which has provided innovations such as digital computers, laptops, digital cameras, iPads, and other digital electronics that have enhanced the digital information processing, and dissemination of digital information. The computing machines distinguish and use only the two binary values of 0’s and 1’s. Digital literacy has been adopted within the higher education because of th e technology change and the need for information access. Higher education includes tertiary institutions such as Colleges, Universities among others. Such institutions have vast number of individuals who need to access more information in terms of research, and within their studying environments to complete assignments and projects. Availability of the internet and networking technologies has efficiently enabled the access, distribution, and communication among individuals using digital literacy. Benefits of digital literacy Digital technology has led to the growth and constant adoption of digital literacy, which has promoted the following benefits. It has enabled majority of the individuals within the higher learning institutions to have constant access to information concerning their courses, performing online assessments and assignments for their academic progress. Learning course materials have been easily uploaded on the major academic sites including the various blackboard sit es for institutions for the students to easily access information, perform online assignments, and submit results for assessment. This has reduced the bulkiness of paperwork within the learning environment and reduced the time required for completion of assignments by both the students and their lecturers. Digital literacy has enabled individuals to make plans, chat with friends, get news concerning academics and the entire world, perform constant downloads for books, software, movies and music from online music stores, and access online shopping through e-commerce sites and companies (Anon, 2009). The technology has increased learner effectiveness, efficiency, engagement, and development of positive student attitudes towards learning. There has been a change in the student behavior in terms of readiness to learning, and integration of the students in the learning process of digital literacy (Underwood, 2009). Technology use Digital literacy technology can be adopted in classroom se ssions by using computing machines (personal computers and portable laptops, iPads among others) which are connected to output devices such as projectors, which output the information. The course materials including lecture notes, assignments, and student results are uploaded on the institution’s intranet, including the e-learning blackboard site and easily downloaded for use in the classrooms with students. In the workplace, such technology can be adopted through various forms such as uploading the information on the company’s site to be accessed only by authorized staff members. Also through conferencing, using digital cameras enables individuals far from their workplace to communicate and virtual conduct meetings with the present members at the offices within the company. Technology implications Digital technology