Introduction to Digital Literacy; Why carry out a DLOR? - The benefits to the provider

1. Lyn Bender, Jisc RSC SW
Digital Literacies

2. 'By digital literacy we mean those capabilities
which fit an individual for living, learning and
working in a digital society.
2

3. 3
"Many learners enter further and higher education lacking the skills needed
to apply digital technologies to education. As 90% of new jobs will require
excellent digital skills, improving digital literacy is an essential component of
developing employable graduates.
Courses that embed core digital skills, as well as subject specific use of
technology, enable students to gain the skills and confidence they need to
use digital technology not only to support their learning but also in the
workplace."
JISC Developing Digital Literacies Programme
(http://www.jisc.ac.uk/developingdigitalliteracies)

4. 4
How are you preparing your learners
for work and life in a world permeated
with digital technologies?
What skills and behaviours will your learners
have when they leave your organisation?

5. 5
DLOR: What does it mean for your organisation?
Are you providing a holistic approach?

6. 6
Key drivers
• Employability: Digital competence is not optional for today’s
workforce
• Quality of teaching and learning: Use of digital technologies
enables flexible, dynamic and engaging modes of delivery
• Organisational visibility and reputation management:
Improving the way in which staff and learners engage with the world
around them

7. 7
Learners and staff are supported as they develop skills in:
• Managing digital identity
• Staying safe
• Showcasing achievement
• Building networks
• Independent learning
• Collaborative learning practice
Key benefits

8. 8
How can Jisc RSCs help?
Jisc Regional Support Centres work with more than 2,000 UK learning providers helping them to
improve performance and efficiency through the use of technology.
www.jiscrsc.ac.uk

9. 9
Help you to develop a strategic
approach by
• Helping to carry out an
organisational review
• Providing materials to
support staff development
• Enabling you to improve
quality of provision
• Signposting you to
recent, relevant research
How can Jisc help?

10. 10
The digital literacy audit has helped us recognise that we already have a lot of good practice and
systems in place throughout the college. It highlighted our robust safeguarding systems and our
commitment to learner’s welfare in the digital environment.
An important area highlighted was the need to raise awareness of creating a positive digital
identity with students; to enable their education and work place progression in a technology and
media rich world. This is something we hope to develop with the support of the JISC RSC
materials and advice and guidance as a result of the audit.
Finally, the Digital Literacy Scan has raised the importance of enabling staff’s digital literacy skills
and providing a technology rich environment which will support all students in their academic
and future life skills.
A participant from the event commented that they were not sure what we would have to discuss
in the 5 hours! However, they found it enjoyable, enlightening and a fantastic opportunity to
really focus on a critical part of our business in such detail. We found the support from the JISC
RSC SouthWest invaluable in enabling us to understand what digital literacies are, how we
currently support them and they also made us focus on the gaps and improvements that could be
made.

11. »Questions?
08/05/2014 Title of presentation (Go to ‘View’ menu > ‘Header and Footer…’ to edit the footers on this slide) 11

12. Find out more…
12
Lyn Bender
Interim Manager
Jisc RSC SW
lynbender@rsc-south-west.ac.uk
Except where otherwise noted, this
work is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND

13. »http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/digital-literacies/
»http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/digital-
literacies/strategic-perspectives/vision-leadership/
»http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/digital-
literacies/practice/
»http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/elearning/
developingdigitalliteracies.aspx
13
Resources

14. 14
General digital literacy resources including resources from outside the programme
Staff development materials produced by the programme
Materials designed for/with students
Organisational development materials and resources on organisational change
Case studies from the programme
Briefings on a range of specific technologies and approaches
Conceptual frameworks for understanding digital literacy and digital competence
Professional frameworks for supporting and enhancing digital literacy with specific
groups of staff/students
Self-assessment and diagnostic tools for digital literacy skills
Evaluation resources specific to digital literacies
Reports and presentations from the funded projects
Final synthesis report
Resources

15. 15
Resources
Developing digital literacies in the curriculum for curriculum teams and teaching staff
Developing digital literacies for digital scholars and researchers
Developing digital literacies for employability for students, employers, and staff
concerned with employability issues
Developing digital pioneers for managers, staff and students working as change agents
across the institution
Developing digitally literate institutions for strategic managers and governors
Developing your digital literacies for staff and students in all roles