D IGITAL L ITERACY (W ORDLE ) Snapshot - An Interesting Insight

D IGITAL N ATIVES – D IGITAL I MMIGRANTS 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?

D IGITAL L ITERACY – S NAPSHOT I NSIGHT Before project really started we took the opportunity to take a very 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?

W E WERE CURIOUS …. AND SURVEYED We took a cross-section of 21 so called digital immigrants (adults age consisting of mature students, study centre staff and teachers) We took a cross-section of 26 so called Digital Natives (Aged FE students consisting of construction and Early Years L1, Health Social Care L2, Travel & Tourism L3)

W E 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

W HAT DOES THE WORD ‘ LITERATE ’ MEAN ? Natives ProfileImmigrants Profile

W HAT DOES THE WORD ‘D IGITAL ’ MEAN ? Natives ProfileImmigrants Profile

W HAT DOES THE WORD ‘I NFORMATION ’ MEAN ? Natives ProfileImmigrants Profile

W HAT DOES THE WORD ‘R ESEARCH ’ MEAN ? Natives ProfileImmigrants Profile

W HAT DOES ‘D IGITAL L ITERACY ’ MEAN ? Natives ProfileImmigrants Profile

N OT 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… This PowerPoint only offers a very brief summary of findings. To find out more the detailed case study report is available as Baseline Case Study A in the JISC Wordle project

O UR 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