Web Literacy 2.0

Authors: An-Me Chung, Iris Bond Gill, Ian O'Byrne

This paper captures the evolution of the Mozilla Web Literacy Map to reach and meet the growing number of diverse audiences using the web. The paper represents the thinking, research findings, and next iteration of the Web Literacy Map that embraces 21st Century Skills (21C Skills) as key to leadership development.

As technology becomes more ubiquitous, and more people come online, Mozilla continues to refine its strategies to support and champion the web as an open and public resource. To help people become good citizens of the web, Mozilla focuses on the following goals: 1) develop more educators, advocates, and community leaders who can leverage and advance the web as an open and public resource, and 2) impact policies and practices to ensure the web remains a healthy open and public resource for all. In order to accomplish this, we need to provide people with open access to the skills and know-how needed to use the web to improve their lives, careers, and organizations.

Knowing how to read, write, and participate in the digital world has become the 4th basic foundational skill next to the three Rs—reading, writing, and arithmetic—in a rapidly evolving, networked world. Having these skills on the web expands access and opportunity for more people to learn anytime, anywhere, at any pace. Combined with 21C leadership Skills (i.e. critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, creativity, communication), these digital-age skills help us live and work in today’s world. Whether you’re a first time smartphone user, an educator, an experienced programmer, or an internet activist, the degree to which you can read, write, and participate on the web while producing, synthesizing, evaluating, and communicating information shapes what you can imagine—and what you can do. follows:

Specifically, these skills are described as:

• “Read” is how we explore the web. Web literate individuals understand basic web mechanics such as the difference between names and addresses on the web, and how data is linked and moves through the infrastructure of the web. They can evaluate web content, and identify what is useful and trustworthy.
• “Write” is how we build the web. Web literate individuals can transform a word into a hyperlink and add media to websites. As abilities are honed, one becomes more adept at remixing other users’ content and understanding or writing code.
• “Participate” is how we connect on the web. It includes interacting with others to making your own experience and the web richer to working in the open. It also includes having a grasp of security basics, like protecting your online identity and avoiding online scams.
• “21C Skills” refers to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits that are important to succeed in today’s world, particularly for college and career readiness and in the workplace. Examples of these skills include collaboration, communication, creativity, and problem-solving.

Research Findings

In 2013, Mozilla and community stakeholders designed the first Web Literacy Map to identify a set of core web literacy skills, and set the stage for engaging individuals as makers on the web. As our strategies evolved to meet the needs of the growing numbers of diverse audiences using the web, we began to ask questions such as:

1. Are these concepts helpful if we’re talking about people across a wide variety of skill levels and needs?
2. Does one need to code in order to be considered web literate?
3. What leadership skills are being developed as a result?
4. How does our first web literacy map hold up?

We conducted a series of focus groups, interviews, and in-person meet-ups that included teachers and in-school educators, scientists, afterschool leaders, community members, web and technology advocates and experts, and international leaders of emerging markets and digital learning networks. We also reviewed the Mozilla field research conducted in India, Kenya, Bangladesh, and Chicago. What we concluded is that people needed the map to be more approachable, accessible, and applicable for learning and teaching web literacy skills.

Specifically, the map needs to be:

• Approachable and accessible to diverse audiences and their needs. The map needs to be written in a language that is easy to understand, and relevant—why do web literacy skills matter to them.
• Applicable to interest and/or expertise. The map needs to connect to curriculum, credentials, professional development, and other resources to teach people the skills they need to engage online and offline.

And include:

• 21C Skills of communication, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving that are important cross-cutting leadership skills to move from being a consumer to a maker on the web.

Web Literacy 2.0

From focus group findings and other research related to instructional practice, the web literacy map was updated to include language and practices that are more approachable. To help people identify why these skills should matter to them, the profiles generated from the focus group data represent examples of real people using web literacy skills in their everyday lives. For increased applicability, these digital-age skills will be connected to curriculum, professional development, credentials, and other tools.

Read

Reading on the web is a critical skill for engaging content online. They can be viewed as “exploring,” or “navigating the web.” Just as traditional reading requires knowledge of the text and concepts of print, reading online requires a basic understanding of web mechanics. Good online readers know the tools and strategies that can be used to search for and locate people, resources, and information. They then know how to judge the credibility of these sources.¹ The web literacy skills and competencies identified under reading on the web are as follows.

Search

Using questions and keywords to find the information you need. 21C Skill: Problem-solving

• Using and revising keywords to make web searches to find information more efficiently.
• Discover information on a given topic spread across a website.
• Detecting information in a website using the internal search engine.
• Evaluating questions and search keywords while considering the purpose of search and obtained results.
• Finding real-time or time-sensitive information using a range of search techniques.

Navigate

Understanding the basic structure of the web and being able to understand how this affects reading online. 21C Skill: Problem-solving

• Accessing the web using the common features of a web service.
• Using hyperlinks to access a range of resources on the web.
• Reading, evaluating, and manipulating URLs (addresses on the web).
• Recognizing the common visual cues in various web services.
• Exploring add-ons and extensions to provide additional functionality to web services.

Synthesize

Integrating separate and unique information from multiple online sources. 21C Skills: Problem-solving, Communication

• Coalescing information shared on one webpage to make meaning.
• Incorporating information shared across two pages on one website to make meaning.
• Combining information shared across pages on two or more websites to make meaning.
• Integrating information of multiple modes across multiple websites to help solve a problem.

Evaluate

Comparing and evaluating information from a number of sources online to test credibility and relevance. 21C Skill: Problem-solving

• Comparing and contrasting information from a number of sources.
• Making judgments about the “usefulness” or relevance of a web source based on the content presented.
• Making judgments about the “truthfulness” or credibility of a web source based on the content presented.
• Identifying and investigating the author or publisher of web resources.
• Evaluating how purpose and perspectives shape web resources.

Write

Writing on the web enables one to build and create content to make meaning. New genres that blend texts and tools have emerged on the open web and are often referred to as making. ² Learning through making involves constructing new content. Good online writers pick up tools while composing text through creating and curating content. In turn, the content they remix and modify drives the open web. The following skills and competencies of the writing strand reflect an emphasis on making.

Design

Creating mental and physical representations of digital content focused on accessibility and approachability. 21C Skills: Creativity, Problem-solving, Communication

• Organizing visual aesthetics and user experiences by using mockups, wireframes or pencil sketches/maps of digital content to be built.
• Arranging digital content visually to provide audience with cues for organization of the content.
• Communicating the purpose of the presentation using text, multimedia, links, and other content for readers.
• Using a visual schematic (e.g., graph, site map) to organize the structure and content of digital work to communicate the purpose and content to the audience.
• Obtaining feedback from users and peers to evolve thinking and draft mockups/sketches of digital content.

Compose

Building, organizing, and sharing digital content that is accessible and approachable. 21C Skills: Communication, Problem-solving

• Curating digital content and organizing it into a system for building and sharing.
• Organizing information, digital content, and hyperlinks to add to a webpage or online space.
• Embedding multimedia, hyperlinks, and digital content on a web page.
• Creating web resources in ways appropriate to the medium/genre.
• Setting up and controlling a space to publish on the web.
• Using appropriate permissions and licenses.

Code

Understanding basic principles, purpose, and applications of coding and programming languages. 21C Skills: Problem-solving, Creativity

• Implementing models to think computationally while problem-solving.
• Developing and modifying algorithms to use while building and finding information.
• Identifying and applying common coding patterns and algorithms to help you problem solve.
• Understanding the development and use of tools for problem-solving.
• Developing materials for broader use by incorporating lessons learned and problem-solving.

Revise

Systematically reviewing and examining digital content with the intent of improving work process and product. 21C Skills: Creativity, Problem-solving

• Systematically reviewing digital content for the purpose or intention of improving content created.
• Evaluating the work flow and product to ensure that it relates to the task or purpose of the work.
• Incrementally adding or removing individual components (i.e., text, audio, image, video) in digital work.
• Incrementally repositioning individual components (i.e., text, audio, image, video) while revising digital work.
• Incorporating new data and user feedback into revisions and future iterations of work.

Remix

Encoding (production of message) and decoding (comprehension and interpretation of message) meaning in digital content by constructing, redesigning, and reinventing online texts. 21C Skills: Creativity, Problem-solving, Communication

• Identifying openly-licensed work that can be used for remix.
• Obtaining and using openly-licensed work that can be used for remix.
• Modifying openly-licensed work for the purposes of creation, commentary, or critique.
• Shifting content and meaning by adapting original content.
• Creating and sharing a completely new piece of work while citing and referencing original content.

Participate

Participating on the open web includes connecting with the communities that share, build, and sustain meaningful content online. A healthy online community requires knowledge of how to create, publish and link content, and an understanding of security in order to keep content, identity, and systems safe. ³ Participating on the web allows users to remix, modify, and share content, and the skills and competencies in this strand drive the open web.

Share

Giving others access to files or digital content in an online space while respecting copyright and licenses. 21C Skills: Creativity, Communication

• Creating and using a system to distribute web resources to others.
• Contributing and finding content for the benefit of others.
• Creating, curating, and circulating web resources to elicit peer feedback.
• Understanding the needs of audiences in order to make relevant contributions to a community.
• Identifying when it is safe to contribute content in a variety of situations on the web.

Contribute

A group of local or global learners who reach a common outcome while connecting and learning online. 21C Skills: Creativity, Problem-solving, Collaboration

• Choosing a web tool in order to collaborate with others.
• Co-creating web resources and content with peers.
• Configuring notifications to keep up-to-date with community spaces and interactions.
• Working towards a shared goal using synchronous (communicating in real time) and asynchronous (time lag in communication exchange) tools.
• Developing and communicating a set of shared expectations and outcomes.

Connect

Extending thinking beyond the individual learner to integrate social networks and tools in problem-solving. 21C Skills: Problem-solving, Communication, Collaboration

• Engaging with online communities at varying levels of activity.
• Understanding and respecting community behaviors when expressing opinions in online discussions.
• Making sense of different terminology and conventions used within online communities.
• Participating in both synchronous (communicating in real time) and asynchronous (time lag in communication exchanges) discussions.
• Discovering information and resources by asking people within social networks.

Protect

Managing and maintaining the privacy and security of your digital identity through behaviors and digital tool settings. 21C Skills: Problem-solving, Communication

• Examining and understanding the consequences of sharing data online.
• Identifying rights retained and removed through user agreements.
• Explaining ways in which computer criminals were able to gain access to user information.
• Changing personal online behaviors (e.g., encrypting traffic, using add-ons/extensions) to make web browsing more secure.
• Using unique passwords to secure online accounts and digital tools.

Open Practice

Using and contributing web resources to keep the web transparent and universally accessible to all. 21C Skills: Problem-solving, Collaboration, Creativity, Communication

• Distinguishing between open and closed licensing.
• Contributing web resources using the appropriate licensing to give others credit.
• Making web resources available under an open license.
• Advocating for the web as an open and public resource.

21st Century Skills and Leadership Development

As people learn to read, write, and participate on the web, a cross-cutting set of 21C Skills emerge as skills critical to success in today’s world. They enable individuals to become teachers, advocates, and community leaders to leverage and advance the web as an open and public resource.

The 21C Skills, combined with the web literacy skills, are the nexus for entry-level digital-age skills. They are a set of abilities such as problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, or communication that people need to develop in order to succeed in the information age. These skills have always been critical, and even more so in an information-based economy. When most workers held jobs in industry, the key skills were knowing a trade, following directions, getting along with others, working hard, and being professional. To hold information-age jobs, people also need to think deeply about issues, solve problems creatively, work in teams, communicate clearly in many media, learn ever-changing technologies.

As part of our Digital Skills for Digital-Age Leadership Development project, we have conducted research and are working closely with expert advisory groups to create a set of open badges to capture 21C skills and competencies and prototype digital badges to make learning and achievement outcomes count towards college and career readiness, and workforce development. The resulting 21C skills framework and rubric includes a core set of skills and competencies important for leadership development that allows people and programs to customize assessments that capture 21C Skills based on relevant content.

The 21C skills and competencies are as follows:

Problem-solving

Using research, analysis, rapid prototyping, and feedback to formulate a problem and develop, test, and refine the solution/plan.

• Identifying and defining a specific problem, challenge, or questions to investigate based on sound research and relevant data.
• Generating relevant questions based on observations.
• Conducting independent research to develop hypothesis and research plan to solve the problem.
• Proposing knowledge-based explanations to develop hypothesis and research plan to solve the problem.
• Applying feedback, data, and research to revise and iterate on the plan as a part of the process.

Collaboration

Being audience and culturally aware, resolving conflict appropriately, using technology tools effectively, and taking responsibility for personal and group productivity.

Audience & Cultural Awareness

• Engaging in behaviors and actions that show an awareness of and sensitivity to stereotyping and cultural bias.
• Using language that is appropriate to the purpose of the interaction and audience.
• Differentiating between appropriate and inappropriate behavior and actions to the purpose of the interaction and audience.

Conflict Resolution

• Redirecting focus toward common ground and the task at hand.
• Engaging with conflict in a way that strengthens overall coherence.
• Negotiating shared understandings during conflict.

Use of Collaboration Technology

• Participating in selection and utilization of technology tools that enhance group productivity.
• Following norms and conventions of communicating in online forums.
• Demonstrating an understanding of the way technology impacts one’s own and others work or views.

Responsibility & Productivity

• Preparing for obligations by reading, researching, and completing actions on time.
• Submitting high-quality work products that meet goals.
• Prioritizing and monitoring individual and team progress toward goals and making adjustments as needed.
• Engaging in self-critique and self-reflection on strengths and areas of need.
• Demonstrating ways that collaboration can lead to better productivity.

Creativity

Generating, connecting, synthesizing, transforming, and refining ideas.

• Utilizing idea-generating techniques to develop or revise original ideas.
• Synthesizing various information to transform ideas into new forms.
• Drawing connections between ideas using a variety of organizational techniques, such as categorization, prioritization, or classification.
• Comparing one’s ideas with others to identify similarities and differences.
• Seeking out and using feedback and critique to revise products and ideas.
• Articulating ideas clearly and appropriately.
• Incorporating new approaches that may be untested and potentially risky.

Communications

Developing and presenting effective messages, and contributing to groups through appropriate interactions and active listening.

Message Development

• Organizing presentation of ideas to appropriately inform and engage others.
• Choosing effective modes and methods of presentation to most effectively convey ideas.
• Evaluating one’s own interpretation and seeks data and evidence to enhance understanding of others.
• Discerning credible and relevant sources to bolster meaning and enhance understanding.
• Analyzing messages from others for implicit or explicit meaning to inform one’s own approach.
• Seeking guidance to refine technique/approach to enhance effectiveness.
• Adjusting presentations based on anticipated and unanticipated challenges and/or feedback.
• Writing with appropriate clarity, grammar and punctuation, and necessary information.

Group Contributions

• Initiating opportunities to communicate, interact, and work positively with individuals and groups.
• Using appropriate tone, clarity, and styles of interacting with individuals and groups.
• Building upon or synthesizing the contributions of others in a way that facilitates contributions by others.
• Evaluating and adjusting one’s own level of active engagement and degree of participation in group settings.
• Offering alternative solutions that build on the ideas of others where appropriate.

The following 21C Skills correspond to the specific web literacy skills indicated below. If creativity, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration are core to leadership development, practicing these skills in an online environment is the “webby” or web-based experiences of these non-cognitive skills. These 21C Skills span across sectors and domain areas and are critical in a variety of jobs and higher education, and for success in life. As users learn and practice the web literacy skills, they also gain web-based competencies in the following 21C skills.

Problem-solving

• Read: Search, Navigate, Synthesize, Evaluate

  Example - Learners are problem-solving when they are able to use the web to search and critically evaluate information to synthesize findings that support a researched opinion.

• Write: Design, Compose, Code, Revise, Remix

  Example - As learners design, code, compose, revise, and remix, they are problem-solving when they create algorithms and designs that improve information sharing and services for themselves and others.

Creativity

• Write: Design, Revise, Remix
• Participate: Share, Code, Compose, Contribute, Open Practice

  Example - Learners are creative when they are able to design new ways to remix and revise information that is accessible and approachable to broader audiences. They co-construct designs with with new partners that increases opportunities to share and contribute to engage more feedback.

Communication

• Read: Synthesize
• Write: Compose, Remix
• Participate Share, Contribute, Connect, Protect, Open Practice

  Example - Learners are demonstrating good communication skills when they are able to use the web to compose and synthesize web content and remix information to share and connect effectively with others.

Collaboration

• Participate Share, Contribute, Connect, Open Practice

  Example - Learners are collaborating when they build products together to reach a common outcome while leveraging working in the open to connect and learn with individuals and groups online.

Conclusion

With the generous and thoughtful input by many current and emerging community members, this paper generate the latest version of Mozilla’s Web Literacy Map that includes 21C skills, leadership skills and competencieswritten in language that is approachable and accessible to more people, and connected to curriculum to make it applicable for learning and teaching web literacy skills. If you are a general user, we suggest you identify your own skill set and level up or identify others that want to level up in an area and if you are an proficient in particular area, help them out. If you are someone who knows how to teach others, we encourage you to find ways to embed and remix Mozilla’s open source curriculum, professional development and other resources into your offerings and share what you are doing with us and others.

Although An-Me Chung (@anmechung), Iris Bond Gill (@iris007gill), and Ian O’Byrne (@wiobyrne) took pen to paper, it would not have been possible without the many who have contributed to updating this version of Mozilla’s web literacy map and from its inception. We encourage you to continue providing us with feedback and contributing to the community.

The first whitepaper paper is available here.

Read Read, Write, Participate, Mozilla’s blog about web literacy, or contribute a guest blog post.

Personas

Teacher

My name is Mr. G and I am a high school music teacher. I’m interested in teaching my students to be responsible citizens of the web given how active they are in making and remixing digital music. With all the issues about copyrights and licenses, I need resources that will help educate me and them about these issues as well how to be a good collaborator and leader.

Afterschool Educator

My name is Maya, and I work at an afterschool program where middle school students participate in a variety of activities from homework help to creating their own online movies. Kids love this program, but we have parents who are concerned about security and privacy. We need a workshop or set of activities to help participants and their parents understand how to protect their privacy and be able to develop and share movies in the open.

Researcher

My name is Jane and I am a professor at a research university. I’m want to learn how to effectively data mine and publish my research online. I need basic digital literacy skills to understand how best to search and aggregate data online, and how to post my research in the open for feedback and comment. I need a MOOC to learn these skills and a way to and collaborate with other colleagues to develop common practices.

Activist

My name is Meghan and am a self-proclaimed programmer who started coding on my own as a teen. I now own my own start-up technology company, and the more time I spend collaborating online, and understanding the most critical innovation of my generation, I’m realizing how vital it is for me to teach and educate others about how to protect the web as a vital public resource. I need resources to teach others about basic web literacy skills, and campaigns to invigorate them about why they should care about the web.

Welder

My name is Adeo and I am learning to be a welder in a job training program. I want to start my own business, and need to learn how to use the internet to build a website, find partners, and create jobs for others in my community. I need low-cost tools and an online community to learn these skills and promote his new business.

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