Who is responsible for digital literacy?
As a lecturer, I feel responsible for helping my students acquire the skills that they need in working life. Based on years of teaching experience in higher education, I agree with Long and Meglich (2013), who suggest that young people are not necessarily digitally fluent: "Some argue that the upcoming generation has had significant exposure to technology, and as a result, skills and abilities to collaborate virtually are inherent. However, evidence exists to the contrary". This is confirmed by White and Le Cornu (2011), who also question the relevance of the "digital native vs. digital immigrant" (cf. Prensky 2001) with regard to generational differences.
In case the students need guidance and practice in the digital world, then higher education should provide a suitable playground for this. Thus the ball of responsibility is passed onto their teachers. They are the ones who should set up tasks or even projects in which the students can learn about and experiment with the latest digital tools.
But: How can the teachers develop their own digital literacies? Who supports them in this process? Should they be lonely cowboys who make their own ad hoc adventures? Or should their institutions provide support, for example in the form of trainings? Of course, the opportunities may be limited by the financial and human resources available at institutional level, but, with a little bit of effort, small steps can still be made. The initiative should come from the bottom and reach the decision makers higher up in the hierarchy. This is what I am working on at the moment...
References:
(2013). "Preparing students to collaborate in the virtual work world", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 3 Issue: 1, pp.6-16, https://doi.org/10.1108/20423891311294948
(2001). "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1", On the Horizon, Vol. 9 Issue: 5, pp.1-6, https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816
WHITE, David S. and LE CORNU, Alison. (2011). Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement. First Monday, [S.l.], aug. 2011. ISSN 13960466. Available at: <http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3171/3049>. Date accessed: 05 oct. 2018. doi:https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v16i9.3171.
In case the students need guidance and practice in the digital world, then higher education should provide a suitable playground for this. Thus the ball of responsibility is passed onto their teachers. They are the ones who should set up tasks or even projects in which the students can learn about and experiment with the latest digital tools.
But: How can the teachers develop their own digital literacies? Who supports them in this process? Should they be lonely cowboys who make their own ad hoc adventures? Or should their institutions provide support, for example in the form of trainings? Of course, the opportunities may be limited by the financial and human resources available at institutional level, but, with a little bit of effort, small steps can still be made. The initiative should come from the bottom and reach the decision makers higher up in the hierarchy. This is what I am working on at the moment...
References:
(2013). "Preparing students to collaborate in the virtual work world", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 3 Issue: 1, pp.6-16, https://doi.org/10.1108/20423891311294948
(2001). "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1", On the Horizon, Vol. 9 Issue: 5, pp.1-6, https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816
WHITE, David S. and LE CORNU, Alison. (2011). Visitors and Residents: A new typology for online engagement. First Monday, [S.l.], aug. 2011. ISSN 13960466. Available at: <http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3171/3049>. Date accessed: 05 oct. 2018. doi:https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v16i9.3171.
Good luck in your approach, in your pursuit Judit! We are always told that Finland is an example of great teaching (at least as school level), there must be opening and wish for development at your university leading level!
ReplyDeleteOne example of pedagogical center (at my university) https://www.ltu.se/org/hpc?l=en
Thanks for your encouraging comment! :) Finland is indeed a leader in primary education. And let's hope there is openness towards developments at university level... Most lecturers are involved in research as well and thus have little time to experiment with new tools. My aim is to make the university launch at least a staff training course on digital tools and online collaborative learning. But yes, a pedagogical center like yours would be the best solution!
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