Connecting the Digital Dots (with Doug Belshaw)

Sue Beckingham and Doug Belshaw Digital Literacy Conference

#sotondigilit

Sue Beckingham and Doug Belshaw Digital Literacy Conference

#sotondigilit

Connecting the Digital Dots: 21st Century Digital Literacy

ies

Sue Beckingham @suebecks

Do we remember what literacy used to be?

Was it simply the 3 Rs?: Reading wRiting aRithmitic

algoRithms

Literacy has been described as the ability to read for knowledge and write coherently and think critically about the written word. Literacy can also include the ability to understand all forms of communication, be it body language, pictures, video or sound (reading, speaking, listening and viewing). Evolving definitions of literacy often include all the symbol systems relevant to a particular community. Literacy encompasses a complex set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture for personal and community development. In a technological society, the concept of literacy is expanding to include the media and electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and number systems. These abilities vary in different social and cultural contexts according to need and demand.

A Public Computer Image in Pittsburgh: Literacy Windows

(Link and Speranza 1992)

Mackenzie 2009

Literacy encompasses a complex set of abilities

Literacies

¨  Natural Literacy ¨  Artistic Literacy ¨  Media Literacy ¨  Ethical Literacy ¨  Visual Literacy ¨  Numerical Literacy ¨  Social/Cultural Literacy ¨  Emotional Literacy ¨  Organisational Literacy ¨  Environmental Literacy ¨  Scientific Literacy

What other Literacies are

there?

Knowledge of a particular subject, or a particular type

of knowledge?

Trying to provide just one definition

could quite easily get anyone into a tangle!

So trying to define what is meant by Digital Literacy may not be simply weaving together one statement.

It needs

CONTEXT

Context + access, skills and practices

“By digital literacy we mean those capabilities which fit an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society.” (Beetham, 2009)

For example: •  the use of digital tools to undertake academic research,

writing and critical thinking •  digital professionalism •  the use of specialist digital tools and data sets •  communicating ideas effectively in a range of media •  producing, sharing and critically evaluating information •  collaborating in virtual networks •  using digital technologies to support reflection and PDP •  managing digital reputation and showcasing

achievements.

(Beetham, for JISC 2012)

Context

ICT literacy is using digital technology, communications tools, and/or networks to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information in order to function in a knowledge society

(International ICT Literacy Panel, 2002)

ACCESS MANAGE INTEGRATE EVALUATE CREATE

Cognitive Proficiency

Technical Proficiency

Increasing complexity of knowledge and expertise

ICT Proficiency

ICT LITERACY

(Adapted from the International ICT Literacy Panel Report, 2002:18)

e.g. literacy, numeracy, problem solving, spacial and visual literacy skills

e.g. knowledge of hardware, software,

networks and elements of

digital technology

Increasing complexity of knowledge and expertise

Cognitive Proficiency

Technical Proficiency

ICT Proficiencies are enablers which allow individuals to maximise the capabilities of technology >>> innovation, individual

transformation and societal change

ICT Proficiency

ICT LITERACY ACCESS MANAGE INTEGRATE EVALUATE CREATE

The integration and application of cognitive + technical skills = ICT Proficiency

(Futurelab: Digital literacy across the curriculum 2010:19)

As you will come to appreciate there are

in fact multiple Digital Literacies and

21st century skills

?

The important thing is to find opportunities to apply 21st century skills to learning and teaching in a variety of contexts

(North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium (NCRTEC) 2002)

Doug Belshaw @dajbelshaw / @dajbconf

Further Reading

JISC Developing Digital Literacies