DIGITAL LITERACY (WORDLE)Snapshot - An Interesting Insight

DIGITAL NATIVES – DIGITAL IMMIGRANTS

Interesting perspective - Much has been written about the digital divide and generation gap.

However this argument by Mark Prensky (2001a) is now 10 years old.

Do generations really see things differently? And do they all understand the basic

associated Digital Literacy terms and focus areas in the same way before we start?

DIGITAL LITERACY – SNAPSHOT INSIGHT

Before project really started we took the opportunity to take a quick snapshot insight into our college community

Are the preconceived notions of different generations or understandings true?

Why? - Does training need to start right at the beginning to explain what it is we are doing?

Why? -Does there need to be clarity for our audience as to what we are supporting? Do they all have the same starting point?

WE WERE CURIOUS….AND SURVEYED We took a cross-section of 21 so called digital

immigrants (adults age 35+ - consisting of mature students, study centre staff and teachers)

We took a cross-section of 26 so called Digital Natives (Aged 16-19 FE students consisting of construction and Early Years L1, Health Social Care L2, Travel & Tourism L3)

WE ASKED… What words, skills, phrases, tools, resources, activities do

you instinctively associate with the term: Literate

What words, skills, phrases, tools, resources, activities do you instinctively associate with the term: Digital

What words, skills, phrases, tools, resources, activities do you instinctively associate with the term: Information

What words, skills, phrases, tools, resources, activities do you instinctively associate with the term: Research

What words, skills, phrases, tools, resources, activities do you instinctively associate with the term: Digital Literacy

WHAT DOES THE WORD ‘LITERATE’ MEAN?

Natives Profile Immigrants Profile

WHAT DOES THE WORD ‘DIGITAL’ MEAN?

Natives Profile Immigrants Profile

WHAT DOES THE WORD ‘INFORMATION’ MEAN?

Natives Profile Immigrants Profile

WHAT DOES THE WORD ‘RESEARCH’ MEAN?

Natives Profile Immigrants Profile

WHAT DOES ‘DIGITAL LITERACY’ MEAN?

Natives Profile Immigrants Profile

NOT CONCLUSIVE, BUT IT DID REFLECT…

Different levels of interpretation from different generations

Different experiences Different starting points Different backgrounds and context

circumstances

As a college we need to start here…

OUR FIRST STEPS..

To clarify our educational focus for Digital Literacy and identify the framework of tools, resources and people to support all levels

The whole community need to be working towards an agreed understanding of our aim to support Digital Literacy Skills