DEVELOPING DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE

ISRAEL P. LLEDO

Pragmatic, academic, emotional and now digital intelligence - wherein technical, behavioural and even artistic skills are need to enhance in order to have an access, craft and succeed in the digital age.

According to the global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, nearly half of 44,478,808 Filipino netizens were found to be at risk of cybercrime. The country also underutilizes its potential in digital marketing as various Filipino experts rated the Philippines computer science education as mediocre with only 10 percent of IT graduates considered as hireable in 2012.

In this emerging digital age, there is a strong need to develop our youth’s digital behaviour for their survival and success. However, foreign investors and marketers alike regard the Philippines as a highly tech-savvy nation, with more Filipinos gaining access to the internet as each generation passes.

Digital intelligence also known as digital intelligence quotient (DQ) is the sum of social, emotional and cognitive abilities that enable individuals to face the challengers and adapt to the demands of digital life. Digital citizenship and responsibility, digital creativity and digital entrepreneurship are all aspects of DQ that must be developed, based on the World Economic Forum.

Meanwhile, The Central Scholar, the Philippine Science High School – Central Luzon campus viewed the integration of DQ in the education system is the key to continuous technological advancement. By implementing measures such as netiquette seminars and online business workshops, the youth is made competent in their facility and command of the digital media. It also allows them to grow into employable adults and obtain a stable future.

It is more likely the same if adult learners adopt this DQ considering the said measures so we can capacitate ourselves to foster a culture of innovation, where robotics, digital marketing industry and other technology fields will lead to societal progress as a whole.

Thus, the Philippines must invest in building the digital intelligence of Filipino netizens especially in the growing computer literate youth to live up to the expectations of a rapidly growing economy.

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The author is Teacher III at Sindalan High School