3 A framework for digital skills

A helpful way to understand and develop the digital literacy skills you need to be effective online is to think of them in different categories.

The Open University has created a Digital skills framework, which targets five key skills areas:

• understand and engage
• find
• manage and communicate
• evaluate
• collaborate and share.

Figure 2 Digital skills framework

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Image showing the different areas of the digital skills framework. The five areas are Understand and engage, Find, Manage and communicate, Evaluate, and Collaborate and share.

Figure 2 Digital skills framework

Through this section, you will be looking at each of these areas in turn. You’ll be completing some activities to help you to assess how confident you are with skills related to each area. The feedback will suggest resources you might want to look at in the future to develop your skills and boost your confidence. You’ll be able to add these to your personal Digital plan. Even if you feel that you’re really confident at something, remember that it is always worth referring to guidance for additional hints and tips.