An Organizing Framework for Literacy

Computer literacy, digital literacy, information literacy, and a host of other terms have all been used to attempt to appropriately describe particular competencies that an individual must know in the information age. However, literacy, of any type, in the information era should not be defined without including the tools that allow one to become more literate and eventually reap the benefits of improved literacy. This research attempts to put forth a unifying framework for literacy that encompasses the reality that there can be no distinction among literacies. A framework is put forth combining three significant components/antecedents that constitute literacy in the information age. This study will demonstrate how computer self-efficacy (CSE), information filtering, and access to tools (or access to Information & Communication Technology (ICT)) has a positive impact on literacy and results in the ability to engage in capital-enhancing activities.