Digital Literacy Undergraduate Badge

Build the practical technology, visual communication, and ethical decision-making skills needed to communicate effectively in today’s digital workplace. Students learn to select and use digital tools strategically, evaluate digital and AI-generated content, apply design principles, and create original communication products for specific audiences and purposes.

Students who successfully complete the badge requirements receive a digital badge that can be added to a LinkedIn profile or professional portfolio to demonstrate their achievement to employers and recruiters.

Keywords: Digital content creation, Visual communication, Copyright, AI literacy

Digital literacy involves more than knowing how to use a particular platform or tool. It requires the ability to adapt to unfamiliar technologies, choose the right tool for a task, evaluate digital information critically, and communicate responsibly and effectively across media.

Through applied projects in COMM 3400, students examine copyright, digital visual literacy, artificial intelligence, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies. They also create audience-centered digital communication products such as an infographic, recorded presentation, blog, website, podcast, professional ePortfolio, or training video. The emphasis is on learning by doing while maintaining human judgment, creativity, and accountability.

Expected Program Entry Competencies

College-level critical thinking, research, and communication skills. No advanced technical or design experience is required, but students must be willing to learn and troubleshoot unfamiliar technologies.

Expected Program Exit Competencies

Upon successful completion of the Digital Literacy badge, the earner will be able to:

1. Select and use appropriate digital technologies to complete communication tasks, improve efficiency, and accomplish strategic goals.
2. Apply visual design and digital content-creation principles to develop clear, audience-centered communication products.
3. Critically evaluate digital and AI-generated information for accuracy, credibility, bias, relevance, and appropriate use.
4. Evaluate when AI use supports rather than replaces learning, critical thinking, and professional judgment, and explain personal responsibility for AI-assisted work.
5. Use digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, ethically and responsibly while maintaining human oversight, originality, and accountability.
6. Explain how copyright, privacy, accessibility, and other ethical considerations shape the creation and distribution of digital content.
7. Adapt to unfamiliar technologies and proactively identify and implement solutions to technical problems.

Assessment: Students must earn 85% or higher on each of the 10 designated Digital Literacy badge assignments in COMM 3400. An overall average of 85% across those assignments does not satisfy the badge requirement.

COMM 3400 – Digital Communication Technologies  (8-week online course)

Description: Explore the technologies used to create and disseminate messages in professional and public contexts. Students examine copyright, digital visual literacy, artificial intelligence, and technology ethics; apply visual design principles; create an infographic and recorded presentation; and complete a substantial digital project such as a blog, website, podcast, professional ePortfolio, or training video.