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The Mozilla Foundation has created a ‘web literacy map’, which breaks literacies into three main areas:

 

1  building

 

2  connecting

 

3  exploring.

 

It defines web literacies as ‘the skills and competencies needed for reading, writing and participating on the web’. These therefore have considerable overlap with the types of skill open learners might need to develop.

 

•   Look at the web literacy map and consider your own skills and competencies under each of the headings they provide.

 

•   Was this a useful exercise? Did you feel that the literacies listed matched what you need to do in your study or work?

EXPLORING

Navigation

Using software tools to browse the Web

• Accessing the web using the common features of a browser ü
• Using hyperlinks to access a range of resources on the web ü
• Reading, evaluating, and manipulating URLs x
• Recognizing the common visual cues in web services ü
• Exploring browser add-ons and extensions to provide additional functionality x

 

Web Mechanics

Understanding the web ecosystem and Internet stack

• Using and understanding the differences between URLs, IP addresses and search terms x
• Identifying where data is in the network of devices that makes up the Internet x
• Exporting, moving, and backing up data from web services ü
• Explaining the role algorithms play in creating and managing content on the web x
• Creating or modifying an algorithm to serve content from around the web x

 

Search

Locating information, people and resources via the web

• Developing questions to aid a search ü
• Using and revising keywords to make web searches more efficient ü
• Evaluating search results to determine if the information is relevant ü
• Finding real-time or time-sensitive information using a range of search techniques ü
• Discovering information and resources by asking people within social networks ü

 

Credibility

Critically evaluating information found on the web

• Comparing and contrasting information from a number of sources ü
• Making judgments based on technical and design characteristics ü
• Discriminating between ‘original’ and derivative web content ü
• Identifying and investigating the author or publisher of web resources ü
• Evaluating how purpose and perspectives shape web resources ü

 

Security

Keeping systems, identities, and content safe

• Recommending how to avoid online scams and 'phishing’ ü
• Managing and maintaining account security ü
• Encrypting data and communications using software and add-ons x
• Changing the default behaviour of websites, add-ons and extensions to make web browsing more secure x

 

BUILDING

Composing for the Web

Creating and curating content for the Web

• Inserting hyperlinks into a web page ü
• Identifying and using HTML tags x
• Embedding multimedia content into a web page x
• Creating web resources in ways appropriate to the medium/genre x
• Setting up and controlling a space to publish on the Web ü

 

Remixing

Modifying existing Web resources to create something new

• Identifying remixable content ü
• Combining multimedia resources to create something new on the web x
• Shifting context and meaning by creating derivative content x
• Citing and referencing original content ü

 

Designing for the Web

Enhancing visual aesthetics and user experiences

• Using CSS properties to change the style and layout of a Web page x
• Demonstrating the difference between inline, embedded and external CSS x
• Improving user experiences through feedback and iteration x
• Creating device-agnostic web resources x

 

Coding/scripting

Creating interactive experiences on the web

• Reading and explaining the structure of code x
• Identifying and applying common coding patterns and concepts x
• Adding comments to code for clarification and attribution x
• Applying a script framework x
• Querying a web service using an API x

 

Accessibility

Communicating in a universally-recognisable way

• Using empathy and awareness to inform the design of web content that is accessible to all users x
• Designing for different cultures which may have different interpretations of design elements x
• Comparing and exploring how different interfaces impact diverse users x
• Improving the accessibility of a web page through the design of its color scheme, structure/hierarchy and markup x
• Comparing and contrasting how different interfaces impact diverse web users x

 

CONNECTING

Sharing

Providing access to web resources

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

 

Collaborating

Creating web resources with others

• Choosing a Web tool to use for a particular contribution/ collaboration x
• Co-creating Web resources x
• Configuring notifications to keep up-to-date with community spaces and interactions x
• Working towards a shared goal using synchronous and asynchronous tools x
• Developing and communicating a set of shared expectations and outcomes ü

 

Community participation

Getting involved in Web communities and understanding their practices

• Engaging in web communities at varying levels of activity ü
• Respecting community norms when expressing opinions in web discussions ü
• Making sense of different terminology used within online communities ü
• Participating in both synchronous and asynchronous discussions ü

 

Privacy

Examining the consequences of sharing data online

• Debating privacy as a value and right in a networked world ü
• Explaining ways in which unsolicited third parties can track users across the web x
• Controlling (meta)data shared with online services x
• Identifying rights retained and removed through user agreements x
• Managing and shaping online identities x

 

Open practices

Helping to keep the Web democratic and universally accessible

• Distinguishing between open and closed licensing x
• Making web resources available under an open license x
• Contributing to an Open Source project x
• Advocating for an open web ü