Digital Literacies

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Digital Literacies

• Skills for the future
• Pat Parslow
• p.parslow_at_reading.ac.uk

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Skills for the future

• Digital Literacies
• Make your life easier
• Increase your employability
• Allow you to have an Agile approach

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Employability?
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What are Digital Literacies?
Yes, that is a question that means you get to
answer it! Please fill in Questionnaire 1 now
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The JISC defines them as By digital literacy
we mean those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a
digital society for example, the skills to use
digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking as part of
personal development planning and as a way of
showcasing achievements.
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The JISC defines them as By digital literacy
we mean those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a
digital society for example, the skills to use
digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking as part of
personal development planning and as a way of
showcasing achievements.
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The JISC defines them as By digital literacy
we mean those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a
digital society for example, the skills to use
digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking as part of
personal development planning and as a way of
showcasing achievements.
8
The JISC defines them as By digital literacy
we mean those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a
digital society for example, the skills to use
digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking as part of
personal development planning and as a way of
showcasing achievements.
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The JISC defines them as By digital literacy
we mean those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a
digital society for example, the skills to use
digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking as part of
personal development planning and as a way of
showcasing achievements.
10
The JISC defines them as By digital literacy
we mean those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a
digital society for example, the skills to use
digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking as part of
personal development planning and as a way of
showcasing achievements.
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The JISC defines them as By digital literacy
we mean those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a
digital society for example, the skills to use
digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking as part of
personal development planning and as a way of
showcasing achievements.
12
The JISC defines them as By digital literacy
we mean those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a
digital society for example, the skills to use
digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking as part of
personal development planning and as a way of
showcasing achievements.
13
The JISC defines them as By digital literacy
we mean those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a
digital society for example, the skills to use
digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking as part of
personal development planning and as a way of
showcasing achievements.
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How do you learn new digital skills?
License Some rights reserved by DeusXFlorida
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Parrot fashion Or Trial and error Networking
learning from friends Web searches Methodical
exploration of tools Training courses How do
you work out the best way to learn, for you?
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http//www.flickr.com/photos/greyloch/5180620832/
CC-BY-SA licence

• Pirate Learning Assess, Analyse, Acquire,
  Articulate, Reflect AAAR!

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Why?Maybe a little motivational song
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The Elevator pitch

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vbegvbqFAYnM

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The Digitally Ready project is funded by JISC and
the University of Reading Neither of those
organisations is in any way responsible for this
song! You are welcome to take the lyrics and
make something better (CC-SA) Lyrics and vocals
by Pat Parslow (who has no shame), music by
Microsoft Songsmith
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Learning goals

• Understand need for continuous improvement of
  digital literacies
• Recognise importance of self assessment
• Understand importance of Digital Literacies for
  Employability
• Understand the Pirate Model of learning (AAAAR!)

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Need for continuous improvement of digital
literacies

• Rapid rate of innovation
• Adaptation of skills to new working environments
• Always-beta style of software
• Knock on effect to your learning in general

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Importance of self assessment

• Provision of courses is sub-optimal
• You need to understand your own skills
• You need to be in charge of your learning
• Understanding your knowledge gaps is critical

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Importance of Digital Literacies for
Employability

• e-Skills UK research reported in their
  Technology Insights 2011 demonstrates the
  demand for digital literacies for employability
• Across the UK economy, 22 million people, 77 of
  the workforce, use IT in their jobs, and this
  will continue to rise. 92 of job advertisements
  require applicants to have basic IT skills and 1
  in 10 UK businesses report gaps in IT user
  skills.
• 1.5 million people in the UK are currently
  employed in the IT sector and 500,000 new staff
  will be required in this sector over the next 5
  years.
• http//www.e-skills.com/research/research-publicat
  ions/insights-reports-and-videos/technology-insigh
  ts-2011/technology-insights-2011-key-findings

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Pirate Model of learning (AAAAR!)

• AAAR!
• Assess yourself, and your needs
• Analyse the gaps between these two
• Acquire gain skills and competencies
• Articulate communicate your skills to others
• Reflect on the process, how you can learn
  better

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• Figure 2 CC-BY rfduck http//flickr.com/photos/rfd
  uck

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• Figure 4 CC-BY Tony Fischer http//www.flickr.com/
  people/tonythemisfit

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• Figure 3 CC-BY-NC-SA Pigalle http//www.flickr.com
  /photos/pigalleworld

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• Figure 1 CC-BY-SA CafeYak.com http//www.flickr.co
  m/people/14893221_at_N06

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Getting the message in to curriculum

• All curricula are different
• Students have responded well to the song
• Students respond well to Pirate Learning
• Write a poem, fitting Pirate Learning (AAAAR!)
  and ideas triggered by one of the four images in
  the context of your subject area
• go on, whats the worst that can happen?

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What are Digital Literacies?
Yes, that is a question that means you get to
answer it! Please fill in Questionnaire 2 now