Paul Gilster essentially wrote the "user manual" for the internet age before most of us even had a dial-up connection. In his 1997 book Digital Literacy
Unlike later authors who focused on technical checklists (e.g., "How to use Excel" or "How to browse the web"), Gilster focused on cognition. In his book (published by John Wiley & Sons), he argued that the rapid proliferation of the internet required a new kind of mental agility.
Digital literacy refers to the ability to effectively use digital technologies to access, evaluate, create, and communicate information. It encompasses a range of skills, including basic computer skills, information literacy, critical thinking, and online safety. Digital literacy is not just about technical skills, but also about being able to use technology to enhance one's life, whether it's for personal, social, or professional purposes.
What is Digital Literacy?
Paul Gilster published his seminal work, Digital Literacy , shifting the global conversation from technical "how-to" guides to a focus on critical thinking in the digital age
A seminal paper on this topic is Digital Literacy and Digital Literacies: Policy, Pedagogy and Research
His famous definition:
Paul Gilster’s Digital Literacy is a reminder that technology changes, but human cognition evolves slowly. The tools we use to navigate the web in 2024 are different from 1997, but the skills required—skepticism, synthesis, and critical analysis—are exactly the same.