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Digital and information literacy for students

What is digital and information literacy?

Digital literacy is about being empowered and confident to live, learn and work in a digital society.

Information literacy is about developing your skills in finding, evaluating, using and managing information.

You may come across digital and information literacy activities in your module materials. Library Services offers a programme of live online training sessions to all OU students and staff. You will also find materials to support you on the Library’s help and support pages.

OU Library Services helps you study successfully and to develop skills valued by employers. Skills include:

  • Finding information online quickly
  • Making judgements about the validity of information sources
  • Selecting appropriate material or evidence to support decision making
  • Being able to research effectively
  • Keeping up-to-date with developments in your field

To find out how to become a confident and critical user of digital tools and resources, there are two main resources available to you:

Being digital is a freely-available collection of short, easy-to-follow activities on finding, using and creating information online. All activities take 10 minutes or less to complete and are very suitable for learning on the go.

Succeeding in a digital world is a free course on OpenLearn aimed at those new to life online. Consisting of 24 hours of study, spread over 8 weeks, it aims to build confidence and skills for life online, whether study, work and everyday life. Topics covered include:

  • digital identity and digital citizenship
  • digital well-being
  • staying safe and legal
  • finding and using information and online tools
  • dealing with information overload

If you successfully complete the summary quizzes at the end of Weeks 4 and 8 you will achieve a badge, which can be used as proof of the knowledge and skills you have gained.