Using digital literacy to develop academic literacy
Elizabeth Stokes – EIS
Paula Bernaschina - ELLS
How it started
Elizabeth Stokes – module leader of 'Study Skills and Mathematics' from the Department of Computing and Multimedia Technology (CMT) in the School of Engineering and Information Sciences (EIS)
Paula Bernaschina – English Language and Learning Support (ELLS) co-ordinator for EIS
Students from Elizabeth's Foundation year module 'Study Skills and Mathematics‘ interviewed other Middlesex University students about the do's and don'ts of academic writing.
What do you think?
In a small group discuss the following:
What do you consider to be the do’s and don’ts of academic writing?
(approx. 5 minutes)
What they said
Analysed reports from 11 pairs/groups
The main focus was on surface errors
For example
• Check your spelling• Don't use contractions• Use appropriate vocabulary• Have an introduction and a conclusion
What they said
Some did go beyond surface errors...
4 out of the 11 groups mentioned drafts5 out of 11 mentioned research
What was missing from most
The writing process
Critical thinking
What do you think?
In a small group discuss the following:
What do these phrases mean to you?
• The writing process
• Critical thinking
Students’ perspective? http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunface13/2597074553/
What to do now
How can digital literacy help develop academic literacy?
What can students do/use to make themselves more aware of the writing process and the critical thinking necessary in academic work?
Literacies
What is academic literacy?
What is digital literacy?
How are the two connected?How can they influence each other?
Literacies
Are students more aware of critical thinking in the digital world and not in paper texts?
How can digital literacy be used to develop academic literacy?
Web 2.0 applications that can be used to assist in developing academic literacy.
Elizabeth taught the students how to create blogs
The blogs were used to establish quantitative evidence and provide a place for the exchange of ideas
Ideas
BlogsTwitter
FacebookPodcastsVodcasts
Second Life
Anything else?
What do you think?
In a small group discuss the following:
How can we use these applications to increase students’ critical thinking?
Something to think about
Adapted from Futurelab.org.uk
Research Writing Academic Digital
Reflection
After much thinking...
The idea of reflection kept coming up
• What is being done to increase students’ skills in reflection?
• Are the attempts successful?
• What can we do to improve this skill?