IC3 GS6 Level 2 — 2026/2027
Premium Original Digital Literacy Study Guide
Technology Basics • Digital Citizenship • Information Management • Content Creation • Communication • Collaboration • Safety &
Security
Source alignment: The referenced Stuvia listing is a 17-page resource whose public preview claims exam-style questions and
shows topics such as operating systems, SSD storage, spreadsheets, cloud applications, keyboard shortcuts, phishing, output
devices, 5G, 2FA, and RAM. ■cite■turn0view0■
Official framework: Certiport's GS6 materials identify seven Level 2 areas: Technology Basics, Digital Citizenship, Information
Management, Content Creation, Communication, Collaboration, and Safety & Security. ■cite■turn0search4■turn0search22■
Important: This is original study material, not the paid Stuvia document, leaked/actual certification questions, or a guarantee of exam
results.
1. Technology Basics
• Operating system: manages hardware/resources and provides the platform through which users interact with applications and
devices.
• CPU: executes instructions. RAM: temporary working memory for active programs/data. Storage: persistent data storage such
as SSD/HDD.
• SSD vs HDD: SSDs use solid-state memory and generally offer faster access and better resistance to movement; HDDs use
magnetic platters.
• Cloud computing: computing resources/services delivered over a network; benefits include accessibility and centralized
updates, while risks include connectivity dependence, privacy, and account security.
• Automation: technology performs predefined or rule-based actions with limited manual intervention.
• Browser settings: privacy, permissions, cookies, downloads, extensions, and default behavior can be configured to meet user
needs.
• Accessibility: universal design aims to make products/environments usable by the widest range of people, including users with
disabilities.
• Keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+C copy, Ctrl+V paste, Ctrl+X cut, Ctrl+Z undo, Ctrl+F find, Ctrl+A select all, Ctrl+S save.
2. Digital Citizenship
• Digital footprint: information about a person created by online activity; it can be persistent and searchable.
• Netiquette: communicate respectfully, consider audience/context, avoid harassment, and verify before sharing.
• Privacy: minimize unnecessary personal-data disclosure; review permissions and privacy controls.
• Cyberbullying: repeated or harmful online behavior can create social and psychological consequences; preserve evidence and
use platform/reporting channels when appropriate.
• Intellectual property: copyright, licensing, attribution, and permitted reuse determine whether digital content can lawfully or
ethically be repurposed.
• Credibility: distinguish evidence-based information from unsupported claims, sponsored content, misinformation, and
manipulated media.
3. Information Management
• Search strategy: use specific keywords, quotation marks for exact phrases when useful, filters, date limits, domain restrictions,
and multiple independent sources.
,• Source evaluation: examine accuracy, authority/credibility, relevance, currency, purpose, perspective, and possible bias.
• Bias: a source may selectively frame evidence or omit relevant information; bias does not automatically mean every factual
claim is false.
• Online forms: verify the site, required fields, privacy implications, and entered information before submitting.
• Data storage: understand local vs online storage, synchronization, backups, sharing permissions, and retrieval.
• Centralized storage: can simplify collaboration and access control but makes account security and permissions especially
important.
4. Content Creation
• Structured documents: headings, styles, consistent spacing, tables, lists, and page structure improve readability and
accessibility.
• Presentations: match content to audience; use concise text, meaningful visuals, consistent design, and readable contrast.
• Workbooks: understand cells, rows, columns, formulas, functions, sorting/filtering, and basic charts.
• Common formats: .docx for word-processing documents, .xlsx for spreadsheets, .pptx for presentations, .pdf for fixed-layout
sharing.
• Compression: reduces file size for storage/transmission; lossless compression preserves original information while lossy
compression discards some information.
• Versioning: keeps or identifies different revisions so users can recover earlier states and understand changes.
• Read-only vs read-write: read-only restricts modification; read-write permits editing subject to other permissions.
• Password protection: use strong unique passwords and, when available, multi-factor authentication; protect files and accounts
according to sensitivity.
5. Communication
• Email: use clear subjects, concise content, appropriate tone, correct recipients, and caution with attachments/links.
• To/CC/BCC: To identifies direct recipients; CC shares visibility with additional recipients; BCC hides recipients from one another.
• Phishing: deceptive communication designed to trick users into revealing information, opening malicious content, or taking an
unsafe action.
• Digital communities: follow platform rules, protect personal information, and communicate respectfully.
• Internet commerce: distinguish goods/services, payment mechanisms, subscriptions, in-app purchases, and streaming
services.
• Secure payments: verify the site/app, use trusted payment methods, avoid suspicious links, and monitor account activity.
6. Collaboration
• Synchronous: participants work at the same time, such as live co-editing or video meetings.
• Asynchronous: participants contribute at different times, such as comments, tracked changes, or shared files reviewed later.
• Coauthoring: multiple users edit a shared document; understand permissions, version history, comments, and conflict
resolution.
• Peer feedback: make feedback specific, respectful, evidence-based, and actionable.
• Video conferences/webinars: test audio/video, manage screen sharing, use chat appropriately, protect confidential
information, and follow meeting etiquette.
7. Safety & Security
, • Authentication: 2FA/MFA combines two or more categories of evidence, such as something you know plus something you
have or are.
• Encryption: transforms data into a form intended to be unreadable without the appropriate key; device/file encryption helps
protect data if a device or file is accessed improperly.
• Portable media: untrusted USB/removable devices can introduce malware; use approved media and security controls.
• Camera/microphone permissions: restrict access to trusted applications and disable/block access when appropriate for
privacy or security.
• Physical health: ergonomics, posture, breaks, screen positioning, and appropriate lighting reduce strain and repetitive-use
risks.
• Mental/social risks: catfishing uses a deceptive online identity; FOMO is anxiety about missing experiences/information;
negative posts can have lasting reputational and emotional effects.
Premium Original Digital Literacy Study Guide
Technology Basics • Digital Citizenship • Information Management • Content Creation • Communication • Collaboration • Safety &
Security
Source alignment: The referenced Stuvia listing is a 17-page resource whose public preview claims exam-style questions and
shows topics such as operating systems, SSD storage, spreadsheets, cloud applications, keyboard shortcuts, phishing, output
devices, 5G, 2FA, and RAM. ■cite■turn0view0■
Official framework: Certiport's GS6 materials identify seven Level 2 areas: Technology Basics, Digital Citizenship, Information
Management, Content Creation, Communication, Collaboration, and Safety & Security. ■cite■turn0search4■turn0search22■
Important: This is original study material, not the paid Stuvia document, leaked/actual certification questions, or a guarantee of exam
results.
1. Technology Basics
• Operating system: manages hardware/resources and provides the platform through which users interact with applications and
devices.
• CPU: executes instructions. RAM: temporary working memory for active programs/data. Storage: persistent data storage such
as SSD/HDD.
• SSD vs HDD: SSDs use solid-state memory and generally offer faster access and better resistance to movement; HDDs use
magnetic platters.
• Cloud computing: computing resources/services delivered over a network; benefits include accessibility and centralized
updates, while risks include connectivity dependence, privacy, and account security.
• Automation: technology performs predefined or rule-based actions with limited manual intervention.
• Browser settings: privacy, permissions, cookies, downloads, extensions, and default behavior can be configured to meet user
needs.
• Accessibility: universal design aims to make products/environments usable by the widest range of people, including users with
disabilities.
• Keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+C copy, Ctrl+V paste, Ctrl+X cut, Ctrl+Z undo, Ctrl+F find, Ctrl+A select all, Ctrl+S save.
2. Digital Citizenship
• Digital footprint: information about a person created by online activity; it can be persistent and searchable.
• Netiquette: communicate respectfully, consider audience/context, avoid harassment, and verify before sharing.
• Privacy: minimize unnecessary personal-data disclosure; review permissions and privacy controls.
• Cyberbullying: repeated or harmful online behavior can create social and psychological consequences; preserve evidence and
use platform/reporting channels when appropriate.
• Intellectual property: copyright, licensing, attribution, and permitted reuse determine whether digital content can lawfully or
ethically be repurposed.
• Credibility: distinguish evidence-based information from unsupported claims, sponsored content, misinformation, and
manipulated media.
3. Information Management
• Search strategy: use specific keywords, quotation marks for exact phrases when useful, filters, date limits, domain restrictions,
and multiple independent sources.
,• Source evaluation: examine accuracy, authority/credibility, relevance, currency, purpose, perspective, and possible bias.
• Bias: a source may selectively frame evidence or omit relevant information; bias does not automatically mean every factual
claim is false.
• Online forms: verify the site, required fields, privacy implications, and entered information before submitting.
• Data storage: understand local vs online storage, synchronization, backups, sharing permissions, and retrieval.
• Centralized storage: can simplify collaboration and access control but makes account security and permissions especially
important.
4. Content Creation
• Structured documents: headings, styles, consistent spacing, tables, lists, and page structure improve readability and
accessibility.
• Presentations: match content to audience; use concise text, meaningful visuals, consistent design, and readable contrast.
• Workbooks: understand cells, rows, columns, formulas, functions, sorting/filtering, and basic charts.
• Common formats: .docx for word-processing documents, .xlsx for spreadsheets, .pptx for presentations, .pdf for fixed-layout
sharing.
• Compression: reduces file size for storage/transmission; lossless compression preserves original information while lossy
compression discards some information.
• Versioning: keeps or identifies different revisions so users can recover earlier states and understand changes.
• Read-only vs read-write: read-only restricts modification; read-write permits editing subject to other permissions.
• Password protection: use strong unique passwords and, when available, multi-factor authentication; protect files and accounts
according to sensitivity.
5. Communication
• Email: use clear subjects, concise content, appropriate tone, correct recipients, and caution with attachments/links.
• To/CC/BCC: To identifies direct recipients; CC shares visibility with additional recipients; BCC hides recipients from one another.
• Phishing: deceptive communication designed to trick users into revealing information, opening malicious content, or taking an
unsafe action.
• Digital communities: follow platform rules, protect personal information, and communicate respectfully.
• Internet commerce: distinguish goods/services, payment mechanisms, subscriptions, in-app purchases, and streaming
services.
• Secure payments: verify the site/app, use trusted payment methods, avoid suspicious links, and monitor account activity.
6. Collaboration
• Synchronous: participants work at the same time, such as live co-editing or video meetings.
• Asynchronous: participants contribute at different times, such as comments, tracked changes, or shared files reviewed later.
• Coauthoring: multiple users edit a shared document; understand permissions, version history, comments, and conflict
resolution.
• Peer feedback: make feedback specific, respectful, evidence-based, and actionable.
• Video conferences/webinars: test audio/video, manage screen sharing, use chat appropriately, protect confidential
information, and follow meeting etiquette.
7. Safety & Security
, • Authentication: 2FA/MFA combines two or more categories of evidence, such as something you know plus something you
have or are.
• Encryption: transforms data into a form intended to be unreadable without the appropriate key; device/file encryption helps
protect data if a device or file is accessed improperly.
• Portable media: untrusted USB/removable devices can introduce malware; use approved media and security controls.
• Camera/microphone permissions: restrict access to trusted applications and disable/block access when appropriate for
privacy or security.
• Physical health: ergonomics, posture, breaks, screen positioning, and appropriate lighting reduce strain and repetitive-use
risks.
• Mental/social risks: catfishing uses a deceptive online identity; FOMO is anxiety about missing experiences/information;
negative posts can have lasting reputational and emotional effects.
