Digital literacy is important in New Zealand for the 21 st century because the

society we live in engages with media that can help us to function more
effectively in areas that will increase and improve the quality of life and in some
case, save lives. Professor Bawden suggests digital literacy is the set of
attitudes, understanding and skills to handle and communicate information and
knowledge effectively, in a variety of media formats (Bawden, 2008). Digital
literacy is important to help people with disabilities become more independent, it
is important to help people gain an education and it is important to help with
safety in the health sector.
Digital literacy is important in New Zealand today to help people with disabilities.
Independence is what disabled people desire the most and what the computer
can help them achieve (Murphy, 1997). Technology is able to help overcome and
lower some of the barriers faced for people with disabilities, such as when sight
is fading or gone, hearing is impaired and movement is lost or restricted. People
who have severe hearing loss or are extremely deaf are able to have sound
restored to them through a cochlear-implant, an electronic device surgically
implanted into the head and ears (Ministry of Health, n.d). This device is then
able to function and be monitored through a computer and wireless remote. A
survey in 2006 estimated 13,300 children in New Zealand had a hearing
disability, of those, 24% were using one or more types of equipment to help
them hear (Office for Disability Issues and Statistics New Zealand, 2013).
Murphy (1997) suggests the future for people with disabilities is excellent
because of the computer, it can immerse them into a world that would normally
be out of reach. Research has shown because of digital literacy it is empowering
and supporting people with disabilities to achieve for themselves education and
employment ambitions (Farbeh-Tabrizi, 2015). The Methodist Church outreach
centre in Hamilton is helping 1,200 disabled people a year reach goals of
employment and education through holding courses and teaching computer
skills (Farbeh-Tabrizi, 2015). The centre is being practical in showing the love of
God by loving and valuing their neighbour in an area of need. Jesus calls us to
walk with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one
another in love (Ephesians 3:20 New American Standard Version). The impact the
digital world has, is not just improving and expanding the physical world for
people with disabilities, but also gives them the opportunity to engage with
people around New Zealand and all over the world.

Digital literacy is giving people who live in remote or rural parts of New Zealand
the ability to study and obtain an education that may otherwise be an obstacle to
them. Te Kura is the name of the correspondence school in New Zealand, which
has approximately 27,000 students enrolled every year (Valentine, 2015). Te
Kura uses an online teaching and learning environment for students from early
childhood to year 13 (Te Kura, 2015). The importance of digital literacy means,
students in an isolated area can be educated with skills that will help them to be
successful citizens in the 21st century (Te Kura, 2015). Online teaching means the
learning advisor can provide feedback quickly, being a lot more reliable for the
student who no longer has to wait for the mail delivery (Te Kura, 2015). Digital
literacy makes it possible for students who are a distance from each other to be
able to work together and collaborate information online, accomplishing projects
that are not possible on their own. Studying online or distance learning is now a
way students can enrol at a university, and gain a tertiary qualification and still
continue working, fitting their study around family or other commitments. Digital
literacy means it is possible for you to study whether you live in New Zealand or
overseas (Massey University, 2015). Teaching and learning is important to God,
one of the gifts God gives is of teaching (1 Corinthians 12:28). Learning, studying
and taking instruction is considered wise, Proverb 1:5 states, a wise man will
hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.
It is important to keep learning regardless of our age or situation and because of
digital technology further training and education can be accomplished.
Digital literacy is important in New Zealand today for use in the health sector. An
area of great importance is record keeping of medication, especially for the
elderly who are in care. Due to memory loss or confusion it is not reliable to ask
a resident their history of medication or any allergies they may suffer from. Medimap is an electronic recording of medication for people in rest homes, hospitals
and residential care homes (McDonald, 2015). The records of the medication
history is stored digitally and shared between the Doctor, the pharmacy and the
medical staff administrating the medicine to the resident. Information is obtained
through secure access on any internet-enabled device as Medi-map is stored on
a cloud-hosted charted system (McDonald, 2015). Through Medi-map the
administering of medication is recorded so everyone involved is looking at the
same information, when it needs to be given, how it is taken and how much is
given, creating a continuity of care. Medi-map has been designed as technology
to improve resident safety and reduce medication errors such as overdosing,

records being lost or misplaced and to help time to be used more efficiently and
effectively (Ministry of Health, 2015). Before the use of Medi-map, faxes were
being sent and charts needed to be couriered back and forth for a Doctors
signature, creating multiple copies and chart errors (McDonald, 2015). Digital
literacy is important to help reduce human error that can occur when so many
people are involved.
I have often struggled with the thought of technology and computers, putting it
in the too hard basket, but I realise that I already have a lot to do with
technology just with my day to day living. In fact I probably know quite a lot
about how things function but have let the fear of technology rule me instead.
Ive been challenged thinking about Romans 12:2 not conforming to the world,
but being transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is
good and acceptable and His perfect will. I realise I am meant to renew, grow
and develop my mind and that it is a good thing to do. Knowing that my mind,
my brain can renew and learn new things is huge and something I need to
pursue, not take for granted. God has blessed me with a brain, the challenge is
now for me to renew it and to learn digital literacy because I do agree that it is
important for New Zealand. (Putting that into practice straight away, I have just
emailed the sound man at church and signed up to learn and help on the data
desk.) Psalm 20:7 some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of
the Lord our God. Yes I trust in the name of God, but I still need to know about
chariots and horses and how to use them.
Digital literacy is important in New Zealand in the 21 st century as it can improve
the quality and safety of our lives. People with disabilities can gain greater
independence, people who live in rural parts of New Zealand can gain an
education and people who work in the health sector can do so with greater
efficiency and safety.

References
Bawden, D. (2008). Digital literacy. Retrieved from
http://www.scitopics.com/Digital_Literacy.html
Farbeh-Tabrizi, K. (2015). Effective computer training for people with disabilities.
Retrieved from
http://www.citrenz.ac.nz/jacit/JACIT1601/2012FarbehTabrizi_Disability.html
Massey University. (2015). Retrieved from
https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/learning/distancelearning/intro/why/why_home.cfm
McDonald, K. (2015). Shared medications chart for GPs, pharmacy and aged
care. Retrieved from http://www.pulseitmagazine.com.au/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=2413:shared-medications-chartfor-gps-pharmacy-and-aged-care&catid=49:new-zealandehealth&Itemid=329
Ministry of Health. (n.d). Cochlear implants. Retrieved from
http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-andtreatments/disabilities/hearing-loss/hearing-services/cochlear-implants
Ministry of Health. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.health.govt.nz/ourwork/regulation-health-and-disability-system/certification-health-careservices/healthcert-bulletin
Murphy, C. (1997). Computers assisting the handicapped. Retrieved from
http://courses.cs.vt.edu/cs3604/lib/Disabilities/murhpy.AT.html
Office for Disability Issues and Statistics New Zealand. (2013). Disability and
formal supports in New Zealand in 2006: Results from the New Zealand
Disability Survey. Retrieved from
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/health/disabilities/moredisabilities-information.aspx
Te Kura. (2015). Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu. Retrieved from
http://www.tekura.school.nz/enrol-with-us/enrol-now/
Valentine, K. (2015). Te Kura - the correspondence school. Retrieved from
http://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/articles/te-kura-the-correspondence-school/