Definition of the Concept of Digital Literacy in the Papers of Ukrainian and Australian Scientists

Abstract

Abstract: The article examines the concept of "digital literacy" through the prism of scientific approaches of a number of Australian and Ukrainian researchers, which made it possible to trace its evolution and modern interpretation. It is emphasized that digital literacy was formed on the basis of other types of literacy, such as computer, information ICT literacy, etc., which at different stages of the development of digital technologies reflected the specific needs of society in educational and professional activities. The article outlines the transition from a narrowly technical understanding of digital literacy as a set of minimal skills to work with a computer and programs to a comprehensive concept that includes information, media, communication, critical and ethical skills. Special attention is paid to the approaches of Australian scientists who develop framework models of digital literacy for higher education institutions. Such models are aimed at developing in students not only technical skills, but also the ability to search, evaluate and create content, communicate in a digital environment, and use online resources safely and responsibly. Ukrainian scientific works emphasize the practical importance of digital literacy as an important component of the training of a modern specialist. It is viewed as the need to quickly and effectively apply digital tools in professional and educational activities, check the reliability of information sources, participate in collective forms of interaction and create one's own content. A comparative analysis has shown the presence of both common features and differences in the approaches of the two scientific traditions. Common is the understanding of digital literacy as a multi-component phenomenon that combines knowledge, skills and attitudes for effective activity in a digital environment. The differences are that in Australia digital literacy is integrated into university development strategies and curricula, while in Ukraine it is mostly studied as a theoretical and applied category. The results obtained emphasize that digital literacy is a key factor in the development of education, science, and society in the modern digital world, and its further perception should be based on both international experience and national educational priorities. Keywords: digital literacy, definition, comparison, higher education institutions, Australian scientists, Ukrainian scientists.