Professional Literacy 

Welcome to the Professional Literacy Module

Throughout your degree, you have used your Digital Literacy Skills to search for information and data to use and share in your work. Digital literacy skills extend beyond university and are a life skill. In this module, we will go through how to use these skills in the workplace and how things may differ out in the real world. 

What is Digital Literacy?

Digital literacy is one of Deakin University's graduate learning outcomes. Digital literacy involves finding, using and sharing information in a digital world.

The world is becoming increasingly digital, and the volume, range and complexity of information out there can be overwhelming. This makes it more difficult to find the information you need and requires a critical eye to evaluate the information you find. Technology also enables us to share information instantly with a click of a button. With this ease of sharing, you need to understand your responsibilities regarding the ethical and legal use of this information.

Being digitally literate will help you to successfully complete your degree and will provide you with useful skills you can take into your future career

Before you begin, have a look at the following short video to find out more.

Learning Objectives

Once you’ve completed this, you should be able to:

• Gain an understanding of the support networks available to you in the workplace
• Find relevant information in the workplace
• Learn about Alumni access and Professional Associations
• Make good judgments on the reliability of information
• Gain an understanding of how Copyright differs outside of a university setting
• Learn about different tools for collaboration and presentation in the workplace
• Learn how to keep up to date with relevant industry information

Instructions

The Professional Literacy module is divided into three main sections; two self-assessment surveys and the Professional Literacy module itself, which is divided into three sections based on the different capabilities of digital literacy:

• Workplace information sources
• Evaluation and ethical use of information
• Managing and Sharing information

When you begin the only section you will be able to see and access is 2. Professional Literacy - Pre self-assessment. Each section and its sub-sections have restrictions applied and as you successfully complete each step the next one will be unlocked.

The Professional Literacy module has activities for you to complete as you go along. You must complete all the activities to release each sub-section. You can monitor your progress using the Progress chart which can be accessed via the tile on the home page or under the table of contents. At the end you will be able to download an accessible PDF of the section's content, which you can save for future reference.

NB. You do not need to complete the entire Professional Literacy module in one sitting. You can leave and come back, it will remember where you left off.

The sections must be completed in order. Only once all sections (1-6) have been completed will the dropbox open in your main unit site, allowing you to submit your assignment.

Order of Completion

1. Read 1. Introduction and instructions
2. Complete 2. Professional Literacy - Pre self-assessment survey. This unlocks 3. Workplace Information Sources
3. Complete 3. Workplace Information Sources, and all its sub-sections. Each subsection here will open in turn as you complete the embedded activities. This unlocks 4. Evaluation and ethical use of information.
4.  Complete 4. Evaluation and ethical use of information, and all its sub-sections. Each subsection here will open in turn as you complete the embedded activities. This unlocks 5. Managing and Sharing information
5. Complete 5. Managing and Sharing information, and all its sub-sections. Each subsection here will open in turn as you complete the embedded activities. This unlocks the final section 6. Professional Literacy – Post self-assessment.
6. Complete 6. Professional Literacy - Post self-assessment survey. This unlocks your certificate of achievement (available under the awards tab) and the dropbox for your assignment in your main unit site.

NB. Successful completions are pushed through to the main unit sites on an hourly basis. Please allow up to an hour to see your dropbox in your main unit site.

Get started 

Head through to get started on the first section - 2. Professional Literacy - Pre self-assessment survey.

Email us at digital.literacy.bl@deakin.edu.au for help, or post your questions in the dedicated Professional Literacy Module forum. We will respond within 2 business days.