Digital literacies are the capabilities which fit someone for living, learning, working, participating and thriving in a digital society.
Becoming a digitally-literate person involves developing those skills, attitudes, values and behaviours that can be categorised under the following headings:
- digital identity, well-being and safety
- communication, collaboration and participation
- teaching, learning and self-development
- technical proficiency
- information, data and media literacies
- digital creation, innovation and scholarship.
Being digitally literate across a range of domains to proficient levels helps us more easily acquire other skills and competencies in life. See: Improving digital literacy, (Health Education England and RCN (2017).
The areas covered by the framework form a whole, where each area is of equal importance. Technical proficiency or expertise is one area, among the six covered by the framework. The framework should be of use to all students, nurses, midwives and health care support workers throughout the UK.
Health Education England has produced a further publication to help individuals identify and develop their digital capabilities. See: A Health and Care Digital Capabilities Framework (2017).