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In a digital world, information literacy needs users to possess and enhance the skills with regards to information and communication technologies and ways to access and create information. Computer literacy is very important. It sets the ability to recognize the need of literacy, proper use of it, evaluate and effectively use the needed information.

To have information literacy and awareness, you need to constantly-

• Have knowledge about how to get involved in the digital world
• How to get relevant information
• How to articulate information and use it wisely
• You need to know about the information creditability and confidentiality

There has been a lot of advancement in IT, so it is a need of an hour to have the information literacy skills included in the pre-primary, primary and secondary education. Schools now have also started using computer and IT literacy in schools which builds a strong foundation for the future of information literacy.   On such example of a school which gives more value to the information technology is the International School in Borivali, Mumbai.

Benefits of information literacy in school education are tremendous. Some of them are explained below.

• It helps in decision-making

Information literacy helps learners to take clear and precise decision without any doubts or uncertainties. Decision-making skills are very essential in order to be efficient enough and use skills to its full potential.

• Promotes problem-solving skills

Brain-storming activities help learners promote problem-solving skills. Effective information literacy skills can be developed.               

• Develops thinking skills

It helps to boost thinking skills of the learners.

• Efficient knowledge:

Learners get efficient knowledge about the literacy.

• Allows critical thinking:

It allows children to develop critical thinking. It helps children with essential knowledge and script that is essential for the lifelong.

How can we as facilitators help them to learn more about information literacy-

In this digital era, it is very important to develop literacy skills in children. We need to integrate technology in our lesson plan. Encouraging literacy skills does not mean cutting down the main curriculum. The topics can be covered using literacy skills. We can modify our lesson plan and integrate literacy skills thus encouraging learners to learn technology.

Following are some of the ways in which you can involve literacy in our classroom-

• Integrating literacy in lesson plan
• Encouraging critical thinking
• Provide them opportunities
• Real world connection

Effective teachers very intrinsically incorporate the literacy in their day to day teaching. They know their learners need and requirements. Teachers need to be precise and clear thus to have effective communication and to fulfil the goal set for the literacy class. Teachers need to demonstrate skills and methodologies that cover each learners learning style. It is very important to keep them engaged even in challenging situations.

Nevertheless, it is not easy for the facilitators to possess literacy skills with the same old techniques and teaching methodologies. There needs to be upgrade. A teacher should constantly update their skills with the latest technologies and techniques. When it comes to comprehension of strategies in classroom teachers might not give as per the expectation because of incomplete knowledge or planning. For this, it is highly recommended for teachers to have literacy skills and update themselves on timely basis.

This not only applies to the secondary teachers but also to the pre-primary and primary teachers. So to upgrade with latest 21st - century teaching skills, it is very important for the pre-primary and primary teachers as well to possess IT skills and literacy skills. There are many international schools that prefer literacy skills in schools.

Thus, while conclusion, we can mention that literacy skills makes the best of learning. And for facilitators like us it is very important effectively use the literacy skills to our best in our classroom and to make the foundation of strong literacy future.