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fit4internet in Austria – Raising Digital Competences
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Foundations, Access and Digital Understanding

Competence Area 0 focuses on the fundamental understanding of digital technologies as well as their application and operation; it encompasses the knowledge, application and provision of tools and structures for digital accessibility. Furthermore, it addresses the understanding of the difference between analogue and digital and the engagement with digitality as well as the development of corresponding judgement regarding opportunities, limitations and risks of digitalisation. It explicitly anchors the human-centred, reflective and responsible use of digital technologies in the spirit of Digital Humanism: the conscious alignment of digital technology use with human needs, societal values and questions of self- determination, fairness, participation, well- being and social coexistence – including the ability to consciously recognise the difference between humans and machines and to derive values, responsibilities and boundaries from this.

Here you will find an illustrative and exemplary description of the partial competences included in the competence area “Foundations, access and digital understanding” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria:

Understanding concepts of digitalisation

This is the partial competence 0.1 in the competence area 0 “Foundations, access and digital understanding” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria DigComp 3.0 AT.

Description

Developing an understanding of the technical difference between "analogue" and "digital" as well as of the fundamental structures, properties and terminology of the internet and digital technologies.

Using digital devices, applications and technologies

This is the partial competence 0.2 in the competence area 0 “Foundations, access and digital understanding” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria DigComp 3.0 AT.

Description

Selecting digital devices, applications and technologies for one's own needs, acquiring their different operating concepts, and being able to use them.

Knowing, using and providing inclusive forms of access to digital services and content

This is the partial competence 0.3 in the competence area 0 “Foundations, access and digital understanding” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria DigComp 3.0 AT.

Description

Understanding and applying or providing technical implementation forms of digital accessibility (such as automatic translation, read-aloud options). Developing awareness regarding gender, diversity, cultural context and people with cognitive, physical or other impairments.

Engaging with digitality and developing corresponding judgement

This is the partial competence 0.4 in the competence area 0 “Foundations, access and digital understanding” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria DigComp 3.0 AT.

Description

Being aware of the transformation of living environments and culture through digitalisation and seeking engagement with these developments in dialogue with others, as well as continuously developing one's own judgement accordingly. Developing discernment regarding the opportunities, limitations and risks of digitalisation.

Using digital technologies in a human-centered, reflective and responsible manner

This is the partial competence 0.5 in the competence area 0 “Foundations, access and digital understanding” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria DIgComp 3.0 AT.

Description

Being able to consciously align the use of digital technologies with human needs, societal values and concrete life and work contexts. Being able to make informed decisions about whether, when and in what form digital technologies should be used, taking into account the impacts on self-determination, participation, fairness, well-being and social coexistence. Recognising the difference between humans and machines in order to set values and boundaries.