Take 5 minutes and grab a cuppa! ☕ Predicted reading time… 5 mins. Back in January, I promised to focus my contribution for 2025 on ‘Learning’…
Learning. Not to mention, teaching digital literacy without problem-solving skills is like handing someone a car with no steering wheel. They’ll press a few buttons, panic when a light on the dashboard turns on, and sooner or later; either walk away or roll the car straight into a ditch – while possibly shouting, ‘But I followed the instructions!’
Digital literacy is a lot like learning to drive. It’s very easy to bypass thinking about ones own digital literacy with a subconscious narrative…
I’m an adult. A professional. Of course, I’m digitally literate otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do my job!
Is there a chance the term ‘digital literacy’ could in some ways have a negative impact on the development of digital skills?
Either way… in 2025, let’s consider ‘the why, the what and the how’ when it comes to Digital Literacy.
Why? Digital Literacy is More Than Just a Bonus Skill
If there’s one thing that’s become crystal clear in recent years, it’s that digital literacy is no longer optional – unless one plans to live off-grid in a cave. In 2025, Digital literacy is essential. No matter the course or the level, every student and every professional needs digital skills – not just for success in education or the workplace, but for life.
From submitting assignments online to navigating workplace software, from critically evaluating information to safeguarding personal data, digital literacy underpins almost everything we do. Yet, we still sometimes treat digital as an “add-on” rather than a fundamental skill that should be embedded into every programme of learning for both students and professionals alike. In real terms, every time there is an opportunity to enhance learning with digital technologies, we should be asking: Why wouldn’t we?
Even in 2025, mindset and attitude need to shift. Where digital is not an optional add on rather it is a key pillar in the foundation for building a learning experience. And the Irish Government agrees. The Digital for Good: Ireland’s Digital Inclusion Roadmap sets out clear commitments to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to engage meaningfully with digital services, including education. The roadmap aligns with Ireland’s Digital Ireland Framework, which aims to make Ireland one of the most digitally inclusive countries in the EU.
At an EU level, the DigComp Framework (Digital Competence Framework for Citizens) provides a structured approach to understanding and integrating digital literacy in education and training. It highlights the importance of competencies such as information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem-solving.
What is Digital Literacy?
Digital literacy isn’t just about knowing how to use a computer or sending an email. It’s about having the confidence, skills, and critical awareness to engage effectively and safely in digital spaces.
A digitally literate person can:
✅ Search for, evaluate, and use information effectively.
✅ Communicate and collaborate using digital tools.
✅ Protect their personal data and understand online safety.
✅ Adapt to new and emerging technologies.
✅ Think critically about digital content, identifying bias and misinformation.
And let’s be clear – this isn’t just for students on IT or business courses. A healthcare student needs to navigate digital patient records. An apprentice needs to use industry-specific software. A business student needs to analyse data and communicate digitally. Digital literacy is a universal requirement for life to engage meaningfully in society, and in education and training it must be treated as such.
The Risk of Digital Exclusion
While technology can improve lives, digital exclusion remains a significant risk and unfortunately there is still a ‘digital divide’. That’s why Ireland’s Adult Literacy for Life Strategy (ALL) identifies digital literacy as a core pillar in ensuring equitable participation in education and society. The government’s target? 80% of adults in Ireland to have at least basic digital skills by 2030, measured by the EU Digital Economy and Society Index.
Why? Digital Literacy Must Be Fully Embedded in Teaching and Learning for All
Here’s the thing… digital literacy isn’t just about employability or using online services though that’s a huge factor. It’s about agency. When students develop strong digital skills, they can:
💡 Take control of their own learning and research.
💡 Work more efficiently, using technology to streamline tasks.
💡 Engage confidently with new tools and platforms.
💡 Navigate the complexities of an increasingly digital world.
Without these skills, learners risk falling behind, not just academically, but in their personal and professional lives. And with Ireland committed to 90% of public services being online by 2030, digital literacy is no longer a “nice-to-have”, it’s a must-have.
Digital learning can feel overwhelming; where do I click, what does this button do, and why is my time disappearing faster than my patience? But just like driving, it all comes down to building confidence, creating muscle memory, and knowing when to call in the IT mechanic.
Think of the three-dot menu as the car’s hidden settings. It’s always been there, but unless you click it, you’ll never know what magic lies beneath.
When it comes to digital literacy, small changes and bitesize nuggets of learning make all the difference to reduce emergency stops.
Step One: Back to Basics aka Your Digital L-Plates in 2025
Nobody jumps straight into driving on the motorway. You start with the basics mirror, signal, manoeuvre. In digital literacy, it’s click, hover, explore.
🚦 Getting comfortable with basic workflows – just like learning to change gears, saving files properly and organising folders in OneDrive or Teams prevents that “Where did my work go?” panic.
🚦 Repeating everyday actions – the more you use digital tools, the less you have to think about them. Just like parallel parking.
🚦 Navigating the unknown – Clicking that ‘More Options’ button or testing out a new feature is like taking a new route home – you might just discover a shortcut and this is discovery learning at it’s best!
Step Two: Problem-Solving and Digital Roadside Assistance
🛠 The Case of the Missing File – “I saved it, but now it’s gone!” (What did you call it? Where did you save it? Or it may be in ‘Downloads’ aka the Bermuda Triangle of files)
🛠 The “It’s Not Working” Dilemma – “Teams isn’t working!” (Translation: You haven’t restarted your laptop in two weeks.)
🛠 The Hidden Sync – “The files are gone!” (Did you wait for the transfer/upload to complete?)
Final Thoughts: Digital Literacy is for Everyone
It doesn’t matter if a student is studying business, hospitality, science, or the arts, digital skills are a non-negotiable part of modern learning, for all ages.
As educators, we need to ask ourselves: Are we preparing our students to fully participate in a digital world? Are we equipping students with the tools they need to work, think, and engage in digital spaces? Are we preparing students for the world of our time, or the reality of what their world will look like?
The Digital for Good roadmap is clear: Ireland’s future depends on digital inclusion. If digital literacy isn’t already embedded in your teaching and learning, now is the time to change that. Because digital skills aren’t just about the future, they’re about today.
All the best!
Sources
European Commission (2022) The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/scientific-activities/education-and-training/digital-transformation-education/digital-competence-framework-citizens-digcomp_en
European Commission (2023) Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2023. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/desi
Ferrari, A. (2013) ‘DigComp: A Framework for Developing and Understanding Digital Competence in Europe’, JRC Scientific and Policy Reports, 14(2), pp. 1-60. https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC83167/lb-na-26035-enn.pdf
Government of Ireland (2021) Adult Literacy for Life: A 10-year strategy for adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy. Dublin: Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. https://assets.gov.ie/197863/c6f1e81f-3f60-485d-9c55-e33cb85508bc.pdf
Government of Ireland (2022) Harnessing Digital: The Digital Ireland Framework. Dublin: Department of the Taoiseach. https://assets.gov.ie/241714/bedc64c6-baaf-4100-9255-02f5e07dd3f9.pdf
Government of Ireland (2023) Digital for Good: Ireland’s Digital Inclusion Roadmap. Dublin: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. https://assets.gov.ie/267401/a898d78c-e234-465f-bedd-7ccd0655b7d2.pdf