Reconceptualization of the concept of digital literacy as a theoretical and methodological background for its study

Digital literacy is the key indicator of safe and effective use of the advanced achievements in the sphere of information and communication technologies (ICT) by the population and its readiness to the integration into the global digital space. The process of improvement of the level of digital literacy requires the systemic approach and purpose-oriented influence by the state, the effectiveness of which is determined by true and relevant information about its current status. To date, scientific development of the methodological background for the assessment and organization of studies of the digital literacy is not sufficient. Conceptually, the index is calculated with regard to the federal districts of Russia with a possibility for subsequent segmentation to the level of constituent entities of the Federation and does not reflect users’ and professional level of the ICT utilization. It does not correlate with the requirements to the models of digital communications. Retrospective analysis of the evolution of the concept RESUMEN: La alfabetización digital es el indicador clave del uso seguro y efectivo de los logros avanzados en el ámbito de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) por parte de la población y su disposición a la integración en el espacio digital global. El proceso de mejora del nivel de alfabetización digital requiere el enfoque sistémico y la influencia orientada a un propósito por parte del estado, cuya efectividad está determinada por información verdadera y relevante sobre su estado actual. Hasta la fecha, el desarrollo científico de los antecedentes metodológicos para la evaluación y organización de los estudios de alfabetización digital no es suficiente. Conceptualmente, el índice se calcula con respecto a los distritos federales de Rusia con la posibilidad de una segmentación posterior al nivel de las entidades constitutivas de la Federación y no refleja el nivel de usuarios y profesionales de la utilización de TIC. No se correlaciona con los requisitos de los modelos de comunicaciones digitales. of digital literacy indicated necessity for its reconceptualization taking into account the strategy of digital transformation of the economy and society. In this paper, in order to improve the methodology and technology of identification of the level of digital literacy of the population of the Russian Federation, the authors propose a model defining basic categories and levels of the digital competence that is a conceptual background for the formation of the integral indicator adapted to the models of digital competences of different groups of population taking into account spheres of their professional activity. The cyclical character and the expanding structure of the model allow executing periodical actualization of requirements to the structural components of levels of the digital literacy, to introduce amendments into the system of indicators, characterizing them, and in the methods of measuring. The results of this research are focused on the harmonization of methodology of study of the digital literacy with the models of competences of digital economics.