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Digital content creation

Here, you will find a clear and exemplary description of the partial competences included in the competence area “Digital content creation” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria:


Developing digital content

This is the partial competence 3.1 in the competence area 3 “Digital content creation” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria.

What is it about?

This competence area includes the ability to create, edit and apply digital content in different formats. It also includes the ability to express yourself by digital means.

What does it mean in practice?

Digitally competent people can create and edit digital content in the form of text, images, video and audio. They can use various digital devices and know programmes that are suitable for creating and editing digital content. An example of this would be to record a video with the smartphone and then edit it with a digital application. The digital content created can be used by digitally competent people both in private and professional situations to communicate or present and convey content.

Why is that important?

Digitalisation has led to a decreasing use of analogue media in both private and professional contexts. Most people write letters far less often than they send a photo via a messenger, for example. Only digital content can be made available on and distributed via the internet. In addition, digital content is more “sustainable” than analogue content. A digital text exists without a limit in time, while, for example, a printed text can get lost or damaged.

Where can I continue learning?

On the homepage of fit4internet, you will find further background information on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria under the heading “Understanding”. In the section “Learning”, you will find learning offers to increase your digital competence.


Integrating and re-elaborating digital content

This is the partial competence 3.2 in the competence area 3 “Digital content creation” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria.

What is it about?

The competence area includes the ability to integrate information and content into existing knowledge collections and to expand and improve the knowledge found there. It also includes the independent creation of new content and knowledge.

What does it mean in practice?

The amount of information available on the internet is constantly increasing. Internet users themselves are also constantly creating new content (“user-generated content”). This content is either created together online or published by individuals. Users at the levels 1-4 of everyday life competences know various options to find user-generated content online (wikis, forums, social media, blogs) and how to use it for their own information gathering. They can also provide simple contributions themselves. For example, they can register in a forum and post or share their own post in social media or comment on the contributions of others. People at higher levels of competence can independently add knowledge to existing knowledge collections and further develop the knowledge there (also jointly).

Why is that important?

A large number of citizens use the internet to meet their daily information needs. However, the availability and quality of knowledge and information are not self-evident on the internet. If many people contribute knowledge, new knowledge can be generated or the quality of already available content can be improved. On the other hand, knowledge can be made accessible to many people. This is then called a “democratisation of knowledge”.

Where can I continue learning?

On the homepage of fit4internet, you will find further background information on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria under the heading “Understanding”. In the section “Learning”, you will find learning offers to increase your digital competence.


Copyright and licences

This is the partial competence 3.3 in the competence area 3 “Digital content creation” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria.

What is it about?

The competence area includes knowledge about the validity of copyright and licences (e.g. “Creative Commons”) for digital content, data and information. It also includes the ability to apply this knowledge correctly when using digital content or to take it into account when creating such content.

What does it mean in practice?

Just because texts, images, graphics, etc., are easy to find and freely accessible on the internet, they do not belong to anyone and can therefore not be used as desired for their own purposes. The person who created the content is referred to as the author and is usually also the owner of the work. A work providing a minimum degree of individuality and originality is referred to as a person’s intellectual creation and is thus automatically protected by copyright. Only the author may distribute, sell, lend and make the work accessible. Using a work without the author’s consent and the content not being openly licensed, one commits copyright infringement and is liable to prosecution.

Why is that important?

Copyright law protects the (intellectual) property of individuals. Digitally competent people should therefore be aware of the legal situation and be able to deal properly with works created by others on the internet. This also includes the correct handling of openly licensed material. If you create content yourself and make it public, knowledge about your own rights as an author as well as the opportunities of licensing your own work is essential.

Where can I continue learning?

On the homepage of fit4internet, you will find further background information on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria under the heading “Understanding”. In the section “Learning”, you will find learning offers to increase your digital competence.


Programming and automating processes

This is the partial competence 3.4 in the competence area 3 “Digital content creation” of the Digital Competence Framework for Austria.

What is it about?

This competence area includes the ability to plan and develop a sequence of comprehensible instructions for a computer system to solve a particular problem or to perform a specific task.

What does it mean in practice?

Digitally competent people are able to understand digital processes in a computer system or programme and have a basic understanding of programming. Computational thinking is closely related to actual programming. This involves, for example, defining problem-solving steps, that should take place in a certain order (parallel or sequential). People who can act in a digitally competent manner know programming languages and their structure in syntax and semantics, and can distinguish different types of programming languages and even apply it at an advanced level. This allows individuals to create comprehensible instructions for a computer programme or app and to solve digital problems.

Why is that important?

Today’s world cannot be imagined without apps, computers, programmes, websites, smartphones and many other technologies. To understand how these things work requires at least a basic understanding of programming and computational thinking as a basis. This involves the ability to understand that programming requires analysing problem-solving steps, identifying patterns and defining processes. In order to write various codes, different programming languages are needed as a further step.

Where can I continue learning?

On the homepage of fit4internet, you will find further background information on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria under the heading “Understanding”. In the section “Learning”, you will find learning offers to increase your digital competence.

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