Dive Brief:

• As part of a special report about the changing face of literacy, Education Week writes that while the Common Core State Standards for English/language arts mention technology use, they leave much to be desired among literacy experts who want teachers to develop a greater focus on digital literacy.
• The standards offer teachers permission to use digital texts in their classrooms but are less prescriptive about requiring it, in part because technology changes rapidly and could have dated the standards.
• While some literacy experts say the standards represent a missed opportunity, others say they lay a foundation for good digital literacy skills, and it is important to note that the writing as well as speaking and listening standards are more explicit about getting students online and using digital media.

Dive Insight:

Standards provide an important lever to impact instruction, but they are set at the state level and individual districts and schools decide how to build a curriculum around them. Teachers and administrators must take responsibility for preparing students with the skills they need to succeed in a digital world and that clearly means digital literacy.

Outside of the Common Core, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) created profiles for what digital skills students should have in four age groups. It also made specific recommendations in a range of areas digital skills should cover, including creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, research and information fluency, critical thinking, problem-solving and digital citizenship.