Why should we integrate digital literacies in our classrooms?

It is known that nowadays we are constantly surrounded by technology. It is up to us to learn how to use it to make the most of it. As Hockly (2013) argues, "Digital Literacy is an umbrella term that refers to our ability to effectively make use of the technologies at our disposal". As formers of future generations it is our duty to foster the acquisition of certain skills necessary for today's and tomorrow's citizens. We must remember that above all we are teachers of the language of global communication and this is what demands us to make our learners acquire digital skills simultaneously with English learning. By integrating digital literacies in our classroom we not only make lessons more relevant and interesting but also prepare our learners for better job opportunities.

Hockly, N. (2013). "Digital Literacy."

According to Dudeney, Hockly and Pegrum's book, these digital literacies can be divided into four domains. The first one refers to how the use of texting literacies are believed to negatively affect our learners' literacy development. "Whilst print literacy is a familiar typology, texting literacy remains the domain of regular mobile phone users and is much maligned in educational circles for the supposedly negative effect it is having on literacy." (Hockly, N. 2013).
The second one has to do with our young learners chance to create social communities within their immediate context but also around the world by making use of social networks, which give them the possibility to shape their identities. Thirdly, as regards the overwhelming amount of information available in the web, it is necessary that our learners learn not only how to find it but also to be critical enough to select it and evaluate whether it is reliable or not. Finally, technology gives our learners the chance to create unlimited materials such as videos, pictures and other media, that is why understanding Remix (Navas, 2012) is important for understanding media. The author argues that "Remix education is a pedagogical approach that gives students the tools and critical approaches to communicate their own novel ideas, identities, and rhetoric through refashioned, retooled, and repurposed cultural objects." 
As a conclusion, we can say that as technology is part of our modern life we can not ignore the fact that, wisely implemented, it can be very beneficial to our lessons. This is why, teachers should not neglect the importance of teaching "digital literacy skills" in order to enhance their learners' digital competences and add relevance and interest to the class.

References:

Dudeney, G. Hockly, N. and Pegrum, M. (2013). "Digital Literacies: Research and Resources in Language Teaching". Pearson Education Limited.

Hockly, N. (2013) "Digital Literacies: What are they and why should we care" Retrieved from http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/digital-literacies-what-are-they-why-should-we-care Last access November 6th.

Navas, E. (2012). "Remix Theory: The Aesthetics of Sampling".  Retrieved from https://autoriaemrede.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/remix-theory-eduardo-navas.pdf Last access November 6th.