Digital Fluency

Digital Fluency

With the large amount of digital tools available today, it’s harder to quantify your skill set by only listing the devices and programs you have used. In decades past, you might have told an employer that you have “computer skills,” but that’s no longer specific enough for your resume and will not allow you stand out among your competitors applying for the same job. Further, many employers know their prospective employees likely don’t have experience with their software systems because they are unique to their business. What they’re looking for, instead, is the capacity to learn — and hopefully, learn quickly. Being digitally fluent shows employers that you can learn new systems and tools, whether it might be something new to you in your new job or something that won’t be developed for several more years. Digital fluency is a skill that allows you to leverage technology to create new knowledge, meet new challenges, and solve new problems.

Dental Hygiene Students are Ready for Anything

Northeast students are working to develop digital fluency in a variety of ways across campus. Dental Hygiene students are learning digital fluency skills by using an advanced clinical software called MacPractice. MacPractice is a clinical software designed for macOS and iOS to help medical offices run more efficiently. Northeast’s dental hygiene program utilizes MacPractice in all phases of the program including business, clinical areas, and laboratory. The software improves workflow and efficiency of the daily activities within the program. MacPractice was selected for Northeast because the software operates on the latest technology from Apple devices and allows the Dental Hygiene program to be the front runner in training students for their future careers in dental hygiene.

The use of MacPractice is not only training students to be successful in their specific program of study, however; students are developing digital fluency skills that will be beneficial for their entire career.  Their experience with advanced clinical software will allow them to successfully use their skills in the real world where keeping up with digital advancements is vital. Students are gaining a skill that will allow them to learn and adapt to new systems and tools, and this elevates graduates above any others entering the workforce.

Digital Resource Development

Another way to incorporate digital fluency skills is to offer opportunities to use technology in a way that allows students to create new knowledge and content through critical thinking, problem solving, and emotional connections.  At Northeast, students have become authors and content creators on their path to success all while developing digital fluency.  Lindsay Simpson, an honor's student in Anatomy and Physiology, further developed her digital skills through the creation of an augmented reality walk using her iPad.  Lindsay was tasked with developing an interactive project to show her knowledge and guide others to learn more.  Using the iPad Camera app, Keynote, AR Makr, and iMovie Lindsay Simpson synthesized the studies she completed in lab to create an interactive AR experience.