Webinar report: How to build critical digital literacies: ideas and practical applications for educators

“Digital technologies are changing many aspects of our daily lives and this brings opportunities, risks and challenges. Are teachers able to guide students in the increasingly digital world? Can teachers make the best use of digital technology for teaching, learning and assessment?”

On 29 September about 200 participants from ETF partner countries gathered together during the online event to discuss the concept and exchange practical information about real-life applications of critical digital literacies on different levels of school education.

The Webinar "How to build critical digital literacies: ideas and practical applications for educators" was organized by ETF Community of Innovative Educators in collaboration with DETECT - Erasmus+ project partnership.

The event started with a one-question survey “Do you know what critical digital literacies are?” For 50% of the participants the term of critical digital literacies was new at a very beginning of the event. The survey question has been repeated at the end of the webinar, to check if the participants have learnt more about the critical digital literacies: 97 % of the public confirmed to know more about the topic.  

Critical digital literacies are about how to…

• foster a positive and ethical use of social media: raise awareness on cyberbullying
• raise awareness on fake news, misinformation and disinformation: foster a check and diversification of sources of information
• to raise awareness of the large use of data and (hidden/malicious) algorithms: foster online privacy, prevent pervasive surveillance and online frauds
• make sense of the digital transition: to foster positive practices in the use of digital technology

Key questions we ask during the webinar:​​​​​

• How can we support teachers and trainers' critical digital literacies?
• How lessons could be designed including the use of digital technologies to foster the development of learners’ critical digital literacies of learners?

To develop critical digital competence of educators, appropriate digital competence framework for teachers is a prerequisite (Littlejohn et al., 2012)

What is our point of reference? The European Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigCompEdu). DigCompEdu introduces SELFIE the free online tool, which will enable educators to reflect on their own digital competences.

During the webinar the DETECT framework about critical digital literacies was presented. The theoretical presentation was followed by case histories from Ukraine, Spain and Italy showcasing practical examples of critical digital literacies applied by teachers.

You can learn more about practical DETECT tools for teachers HERE

Please find below the presentations shown during the meeting:

What critical digital literacies for teachers? The European Commission’s DIGCOMPEDU, Alessandro Brolpito, ETF

Critical digital literacies through learning design - the DETECT project, Darren Mundy, University of Hull 

Keep learning going in uncertain times – Digital literacies of Ukrainian teachers, Oksana Pasichnyk, Ukraine

Practical scenarios from Escola Virolai - Carol De Britos, Escola Virolai, Spain

Critical digital literacies at VET school – practical examples, Osvaldo Di Cuffa, Sassetti-Peruzzi Vocational School, Italy

You can re-watch the webinar clicking on the icons below to access the recordings in English, Arabic and Russian.  

How to build Critical Digital Literacies: Ideas and Practical Applications for Educators ENG 

How to build Critical Digital Literacies: Ideas and Practical Applications for Educators RU 

How to build Critical Digital Literacies: Ideas and Practical Applications for Educators AR