Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy in Social Crisis

Introduction

• Digital technologies impact social relationships, emphasizing the need for digital literacy.
• Importance of digital skills for personal development and social integration.
• European and Bulgarian initiatives for digital literacy.
• Research Questions:
  • Role and perception of digital media in daily life.
  • Evaluation of digital skills and media reliability during COVID-19.
  • Management of education during lockdowns.
• Innovativeness:
  • Widespread digitalization changing societal evaluations.
  • New learning contexts for digital citizenship.

Basic Considerations

Digital Citizenship

• Emerged in late 19th/early 20th century.
• Harmonious development within communities.
• Involves awareness, critical thinking, and responsibility.
• Online dimensions: wages, democratic participation, and communication.
• Educational focus on internet safety, privacy, communication, and more.
• Qualifications: access, commerce, communication, etiquette, governance, health, law, rights, security.

Digital Skills and Literacy

• Fast-evolving concept, defined as dynamic.
• Generational differences in digital skill acquisition.
• Mark McCrindle's generational classification from Elders to Generation Alpha.
• Digital literacy involves finding, understanding, evaluating, and applying information.
• Ferrari's digital literacy includes information, communication, content creation, and security skills.
• Emphasis on both technical and social skills.

Methodology

• Focus Groups:
  • Conducted in 2019 and 2020, involving various social groups.
  • Discussed digital literacy, skills, and societal impacts.
  • Included young mothers, pensioners, students, and Bulgarian Muslims.
• Document Analysis:
  • National surveys during COVID-19 lockdowns.
  • Focus on digital media's role and education effectiveness.

Results

Focus Groups

• Disparity between generations in digital skills.
• Perception of digital technology as a potential threat to jobs and communication.
• Digital skills seen as essential for information access and social regulation.
• Digital Learning Challenges:
  • Adapting education to an online environment.
  • Need for hybrid learning models.

Surveys

Digital Education

• COVID-19 pushed Bulgarian education online.
• Disparities in resource access between urban and rural areas.
• Internet access crucial for effective online learning.
• Utilization of various digital platforms.

Digitization in Crises

• COVID-19 amplified the need for digital literacy.
• Fake news and misinformation issues.
• Social media's role in information dissemination.
• Limited compensation for physical social interactions.

Discussion

• Education's role in fostering digital literacy and citizenship.
• Barriers: Resource and training limitations.
• Importance of youth in developing digital citizenship.

Conclusions

• Digital citizenship is key to global society.
• Digital skills crucial during crises for maintaining societal functions.
• Online education represents a digital transformation.
• Necessity for ongoing research into digitalization and societal impacts.