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Project by Dr. Emma Coonan "IntroductionThis short project, based at Cambridge University Library and funded by the Arcadia Programme, sought to develop a practical curriculum for information literacy that meets the needs of the undergraduate student entering higher education over the next five years.The research is grounded in relevant theoretical models and reviews of recent professional literature and existing best practices. In addition, the authors consulted with experts in the information literacy field, and also those working in curriculum design and educational technologies.Project aims and objectivesThis project sought to develop a practical curriculum for information literacy that meets the needs of the undergraduate student entering higher education over the next five years. Specifically the project aimed:* To understand the information needs of future undergraduate students on entering higher education* To develop a revolutionary curriculum for information literacy that can be used with undergraduate students entering UK higher education* To provide practical guidance about how best to equip students with the knowledge, skills and behaviour around information use to support their learning in the digital age* To develop a flexible curriculum that can be used and adapted in the higher education community and used in face to face, blended and online learning provision."

The Knight Commission recognized that people need tools, skills and understanding to use information effectively, and that successful participation in the digital age entails two kinds of skills sets: digital literacy and media literacy. Digital literacy means learning how to work the information and communication technologies in a networked environment, as well as understanding the social, cultural and ethical issues that go along with the use of these technologies. Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, reflect upon, and act with the information products that media disseminate.

Literacy has always been a collection of cultural and communicative practices shared among members of particular groups. As society and technology change, so does literacy. Because technology has increased the intensity and complexity of literate environments, the twenty-first century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies, many literacies. These literacies-from reading online newspapers to participating in virtual classrooms-are multiple, dynamic, and malleable. As in the past, they are inextricably linked with particular histories, life possibilities and social trajectories of individuals and groups

Two years ago, in Towards a comprehensive definition of digital skills, I depicted digital literacy according to five different categories, being those categories technological literacy, informational literacy, media literacy, digital presence and e-awareness. Explaining these concepts with a single example (that is, all the concepts using the very same example for all of them) is not always easy, so you end up using different examples with each category or concept. Today I just found that single example that can be used to explain all of them...

In combination with academic literacies, digital and information literacies represent a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills that ideally should be developed as an integral part of subject specific learning. The challenge at an institutional level is helping academic staff and students achieve this in a manner that is fully integrated and sustainable. As part of the JISC funded Digidol Project (http://digidol.cardiff.ac.uk) at Cardiff University work is being done to create a common framework and methodology to enable professional services staff, academic staff and students to arrive at a shared understanding of what literacies are required and how they can best be realised through meaningful learning and teaching practices.

Summary presentation of a recent Cambridge research project aiming to development an Information Literacy curriculum for undergraduate students. There is also a comprehensive Wiki of resources. The sixth slide is interesting: placing digital literacy as part of the wider information literacy landscape.

Worcester College of Technology is coming to the end of a two year project where we have been researching digital literacy skills in our students and teachers and develop resources to improve digital literacy. One of the main outputs of this project are 2 OCN level 2 Qualifications. These are *Blended Online Learning Delivery (BOLD) is aimed at teachers, and consists of three individual level 2 units building to 3 credits for the qualification. *Online Skills for Learners (OSL) is aimed at students, and also consists of three individual level 2 units building to 3 credits for the qualification. We have built Moodle courses for each of these units which we are sharing freely under creative commons licence. If you are interested in finding out more about this please visit our Digital Literacy Moodle at http://diglit.wortech.ac.uk and set up your own account to gain access. At this site you will be able to view, and if you wish download the courses to install on your own Moodles, as well as find out more about how we have developed digital literacy and blended learning at Worcester College of Technology

The insertion of social media in education has the potential to advance core aims of our society: to teach students how to engage with their families, neighbors, and communities in a new way. The combination of social media and education requires that we teach students how to become literate in a digital world. The skills of literacy are no longer just about reading and writing, but about abilities that surround our responsibilities as authors. In Digital and Media Literacy: A Plan of Action, researcher Renee Hobbs offers that digital and media literacy is constructed of five crucial abilities:

Resources and tips to help teachers incorporate digital literacy skills into content area learning.

"The 5 Resources Model provides a framework to articulate the scope and dimensions of digital literacies. It is based on an established model of literacy which is underpinned by critical perspectives (the Four Resources Model of Critical Literacy, after Luke & Freebody). It has been adapted for the digital context."

Welcome to the Digital Literacy @ University of Worcester Blog This blog for Digital Literacy, bringing you interesting pieces of information encouraging all to join a community interested in discussing the impact technology is or might have on our lives whether we are students or staff. Exploring Open Education Resources - cost, quality, best practice frameworks.Running an annual survey for Digital Literacy (with a prize) to help us find out what you want, need and aspire to:Exploring social networking virtual worlds for administrative, teaching and communication affordances.Exploring online lunchtime seminars for staff.

ISC has recently funded a £1,5 million Developing Digital Literacies programme which runs from July 2011 to July 2013, with benefits realisation activities continuing until the end of December 2013. The aim of the programme is to promote the development of coherent, inclusive and holistic institutional strategies and organisational approaches for developing digital literacies for all staff and students in UK further and higher education. To inform the development of this programme, JISC commissioned Helen Beetham to conduct a Review and scoping study. The review describes work that has already been funded by JISC and its partner agencies in the area of digital literacy, and the context in which this work is taking place.

An updated and expanded version to reflect more clearly the range of different terminologies and concepts which we now understand as "Information Literacy". Online (rather than pdf) version with clickable links

An updated and expanded version to reflect more clearly the range of different terminologies and concepts which we now understand as "Information Literacy". Online (rather than pdf) version with clickable links

In order to survive and develop, make decisions, and solve problems in every facet of life - personal, social, educational, and professional, individuals, communities, and nations need information about themselves as well as their physical and their social environments. This information is available via three processes: observation and experimentation, conversation (with other persons), and consultation (with memory institutions). The competence to do this effectively and efficiently is called Media and Information Literacy.

Definitions.

"The 2011 ECAR National (USA) Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology gathered stratified data from "3,000 college students from 1,179 colleges and universities" via an opt-in invitation-only online questionnaire, in June 2011."

" ...there is a group of people who are challenged by an even more fundamental problem: lack of access to the Internet in their homes coupled with the inability to engage in our information economy since they lack basic digital literacy skills. In an economy that demands you find a job online and possess at least limited online skills, we are leaving millions behind."

 A (brief!) history of digital literacy inthe UK and the EU Tabetha Newman Sarah Payton April 2012 PowerPoints from the recent webinar with detailed notes

This has been taken down?...already?

"In this course students will be required to demonstrate the ability to efficiently and effectively navigate the digital technologies required to accomplish specific goals and tasks. Primarily, the goal of digital literacy is that individuals are able to select the correct digital tool at the right time for the right purpose behaving ethically, responsibly and always protecting the personal security and privacy of themselves and others. There are 4 areas of study: Social Networking, Personal Learning Environments and Networks, and Principles of Digital Presentation and, Principles of Inquiry."

This blog post has a useful taxonomy of literacy.