1. Beyond search: A skill set for online literacy Monica Bulger

2. Bulger | Fall 2006Beyond search Questions What is “online literacy” ? Turn to the person next to you to discuss. Preliminary understanding of online literacy. –Online literacy is: faster (content delivery, dynamic medium); more than a sub-set of general literacy…involves computer; navigation skills; beyond idea of browsing or surfing –Online literacy is not: traditional; simply reading

3. Bulger | Fall 2006Beyond search Preliminary definition Online literacy is the process of gathering, evaluating, and integrating information from multiple online sources.

4. Bulger | Fall 2006Beyond search Approaches to study Given your academic background, what are some questions you would ask about online literacy ? Turn to another person next to you to discuss Possible questions: –How are we defining online literacy ? Is the online medium expanding what we consider literacy ? –What are the cognitive processes involved ? –How would you further improve the interface? –Dire cultural loss of literacy…has the experience of online literacy put traditional book reading at risk ? –Are other languages dying as a result of dominance of English language online ?

5. Bulger | Fall 2006Beyond search Interdisciplinary approach Media studies: What are the consequences of participation ? How is reading online different ? [focus on the medium] Psychology: What are the cognitive processes involved in online literacy ? [focus on how people learn] Computer Science: How can interface be improved ? [focus on the system/architecture]

6. Bulger | Fall 2006Beyond search Interdisciplinary approach Education: How can we teach and assess these skills ? [focus on pedagogy]

7. Bulger | Fall 2006Beyond search My approach Gathered research from cognitive psychology, education, library science, media studies, and computer science. Made table of cognitive and theoretical models. Compared differences and similarities between models. Developed preliminary model of online literacy process.

8. Bulger | Fall 2006Beyond search Next steps Define key terms: literacy, reading, online literacy Identify skill set: process information from multiple sources –gather –evaluate –integrate

9. Bulger | Fall 2006Beyond search Online literacy process Visual literacy Computer literacy Document literacy Multimedia literacy Reading skills Writing skills Set goals Integrate Gather Evaluate

10. Bulger | Fall 2006Beyond search Assess skill set Develop study to assess skill set Identify what classifies someone as highly proficient Can these skills be taught ? If so, how ?