Making Digital Media Literacy Matter

Hi Everyone,

I recently read NMC's Horizon Report 2013 Higher Education Edition and found a really interesting topic for discussion in the significant challenges section of the writing. The authors write that faculty training still does not acknowledge the fact that digital media literacy continues its rise in importance as a key skill in every discipline and profession. Despite the widespread agreement on the importance of digital media literacy, training in the supporting skills and techniques is rare in teacher education and non-existent in the preparation of faculty. As lectures and professors begin to realize that they are limiting their students by not helping them to develop and use digital media literacy skills across the curriculum, the lack of formal training is being offset through professional development or informal learning, but we are far from seeing digital media literacy as a norm. This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that digital literacy is less about tools and more about thinking and thus skills and standards based on tools and platforms have proven to be somewhere ephemeral.

The question I'd like to pose is how important is mandating digital media literacy to teachers and professors?  Is it a case by case basis? Does a Philosophy instructor need digital media literacy as much as a career development instructor?