1 The importance of being digital
Water, water every where,
Nor any drop to drink.
Although technology is all around us, some people are still excluded (The Tech Partnership, 2017). This is often due to lack of opportunities to access the internet or ability to afford the necessary equipment. There are all sorts of benefits for society when people and organisations are able to use the internet to full effect.
On an individual level, gaining digital skills can reduce isolation, increase career prospects and enable people to access health information.
For organisations, becoming more digital is likely to increase visibility, efficiency and competitiveness.
For society in general, being digitally confident empowers people to make their voices heard on issues of importance to them.
Digital skills are also highly important when it comes to studying.
There is more to succeeding online than just knowing how to do specific tasks. It is also important to be able to judge who and what you can trust, understand the essentials of ethical behaviour online and communicate well with others. Being ‘digital’ is about using technology to achieve your goals, whether those are related to work, everyday life or study. It involves thinking critically and making the decisions that are right for you and your life.
In the next activity Manuela, Michael and John, your three ‘digital companions’ on this course, will introduce themselves, and talk about their aspirations and goals.
Activity 1 Starting your digital journey
In the following videos, Manuela, Michael and John introduce themselves and share what they hope to get out of this course.
As you watch, think about whether any aspects of Manuela’s, Michael’s or John’s stories reflect your own experience.
Note your own aspirations and goals in your Digital plan.
(Remember, you can use a different tool to record your notes, if you prefer, but have a look at the Digital plan template provided to give you some guidance.)
In the next section you will identify your starting point for this course, by thinking about what technologies you currently use and what you do online.
OpenLearn - Succeeding in a digital world
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