The Importance of Digital Literacy

            Since the turn of the 21st century, technology has advanced to unimaginable levels. What used to be thought of as impossible, is now a platform for infinite applications. Social media has been one of the main creations, and while it can be used as a resource to help someone with their career, users must be knowledgeable about the consequences as well. A knowledge of digital literacy, digital citizenship, and how the two are related to each other is paramount to achieving success with the use of social media in the professional world.

            As a future band director, the evolution of digital rights and citizenship will affect my career in many ways such as the management of the band website for parents and students, social media accounts, and finding opportunities to cultivate the culture I’m looking to create in my band program. When I was in high school, we got all our information about band performances and call times through the high school band website. However, the digital landscape has changed greatly since then. I had the opportunity to tech at Brooke Pointe High School the last two years, and this taught me a lot about what has changed in the last 10 years. While there is still a main website, the use of apps to streamline things has entered the equation on the basis of most students possessing smartphones.

            As far as how many more future changes that could happen, I think using only apps for music will become the norm. Old Dominion University already started this, with having band members download an app that contains all pep music for home football games, instead of carrying around a bulky flipbook. Furthermore, using iPads for reading music in concert band has also started gathering steam.  Obviously if I want to thrive in my career, I will have to embrace these changes, perhaps allocate part of the band budget to section iPads that students can use. Maybe limit these tools to the upper level students as to avoid accidents or carelessness with the technology.

Digital Literacy connects to my career hopes and plans in many ways, not limited to what I’ve previously mentioned. As an instructor for High School students, being knowledgeable about the consequences of social media, filters, validation, authenticity, and addicting even will come up during my career. Many studies have already shown the negative impact that social media, and by extension smartphones are having on the youth. Many take restrictive approaches, but I think swimming with the current is the answer. Allowing students to run section Instagram accounts like for the woodwind or clarinet section helps them learn these lessons of digital rights, and I can even incorporate that into my teaching with maybe an after school seminar about this subject with those specific students.

            In conclusion, while social media is a scary subject, especially in relation to teenagers, I think the way forward is to embrace change and help them make smart decision about their digital citizenship, rights, and overall autonomy. By not discussing these subjects, it opens the door to more serious issues such as depression and anxiety that the students may not be aware can be traced back to social media.