DIGITAL LITERACYAn NMC Horizon Project

Strategic BriefCommissioned by Adobe

Contact: Samantha Adams Becker, NMC512.445.4200 | samantha@nmc.org

The aim of this publication is to establish a shared vision of digital literacy for higher education leaders by illuminating:

• findings from the NMC’s digital literacy survey to Higher Ed professionals

• key definitions and models of digital literacy• best practices happening at colleges and universities• recommendations for implementing successful digital

literacy initiatives.

ABOUT THE REPORT

KEY FINDINGS: SURVEY450+ education leaders, faculty, and staff responded to the NMC digital literacy survey, collectively generating a clearer picture of how the subject is being perceived by and impacting the field.

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“Going digital with everything in higher education relies on digital literacy skills—productivity, creativity, research, and content creation rather than consumption.”-Director, Center for Instructional Technologies, Public Four-Year University

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“That’s the broader definition of digital literacy — how you can take these tools and recreate and reinvent what it means to learn and educate.”-Jan Holmevik, Associate Professor of English and Co-Director of the Center of Excellence in Next Generation Computing and Creativity, Clemson University

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“A university-wide approach is needed which attempts to involve all faculty and students. Currently there are only a few faculty chosen by IT and the administrators who are asked to participate.”-NMC Higher Education Survey Respondent

KEY FINDINGS: MODELSBased on the variety and complexity of the survey results, three different digital literacies are evident, each with distinct standards, potential curriculum, and implications for creative educators.

KEY FINDINGS: EXEMPLARS

Higher education leaders should take note of initiatives listed in the report that prioritize and strengthen campus technology fluency, embodying one or all of the models of digital literacy. Several examples follow.

USC Annenberg, Pioneering the New Era of Digital Communication go.nmc.org/uscadobe

Through the 21st Century Literacy Initiative, students enrolled in University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism are learning cross-disciplinary skills. In addition to gaining a better understanding of how to create and publish content across various digital outlets, they are creating audio and interactive videos.

Webster University Announces Global Alliance with Adobe go.nmc.org/web

Recognizing the ubiquitous nature of digital technology and its growing use across disciplines, Webster University has partnered with Adobe to roll out access to Creative Cloud for their global community of Webster staff, faculty, and students. Users may access Adobe Creative Cloud library, cloud storage, and services whether using university equipment or through their personal devices.

Scaling Up Digital Literacy go.nmc.org/clem

Clemson University’s Adobe Digital Studio exposes students and faculty to a variety of technologies, in a space where they can experiment, problem solve, and create. The university invested in numerous production technologies including a green screen studio with a one-button video recording system, a high-end audio recording station, and access to the full Adobe Creative Cloud.

KEY FINDINGS: RECOMMENDATIONS

How can institutions act now or change their models to meet the literacy demands presented by the modern digital era? Four recommendations are presented with the goal of advancing digital literacy across higher education.

KEY FINDINGS: CONCLUSION

• Cross-disciplinary digital skills are the lifeblood of deeper learning outcomes.

• Institutions must provide the tools and opportunities to ensure students can deliver effective visual and digital communications.

• The rapid pace at which new technologies are developing requires strategic planning to accommodate future social and economic needs.

• Notions of digital literacy are expanding to incorporate new skills such as big data analysis, robotics, and coding.

• Higher Ed leaders must stay in tune with the demands of the workforce.

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ON ““[Students] need to be able to adapt as situations change and be confident in moving across the digital space.”-NMC Higher Education Survey Respondent

ABOUT THE NMC

The NMC is a not-for-profit consortium of learning-focused institutions dedicated to exploring

and charting technology and innovation in education.

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