Effective digital communication is the ability to create persuasive
communications in different media, be it websites, video, audio, text, or
animated multimedia. Digital communication is a foundation skill for most
careers today, as most people will be involved in some form of conceptualizing,
producing, delivering, and receiving such communications in their jobs and
lives. Starting in elementary school and extending to higher education, students
can learn a variety of digital communication skills across all their courses,
whether they build multimedia presentations to demonstrate their knowledge of
academic subjects, create e-portfolios of coursework, or present ideas in a
virtual classroom.
In the past year, several reports on digital literacy have been published. They
describe digital literacy, what it is, and its importance as a 21st century skill for
this generation of learners. The Metiri Group and NCREL published, “enGauge
21st Century Skills, Literacy in the Digital Age,” in which they showcase the
skills with which students will be ready to thrive in a technological, global
environment. Based on two years of research, they’ve developed a collection of
skill clusters to be included right next to rigorous academic standards: digital-
age literacy, inventive thinking, high productivity, and effective communication.
Effective communication presumes that students select and use multiple
technology tools to create persuasive messages.
