A new tool!

One of our assignments this week is to try something new and expend our digital literacy skills.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I don't have a very good record with video production and editing, however I'm not quite ready to go there (though I do have an idea of what I might try).   I am quite comfortable with static imagery, and really like visual representations of information.  It seemed logical then to create some sort of visual to go along with our class content.

Last night I searched for sites where one could create an infographic, but I wasn't happy with the options I found.  Fortunately I came across mention of Canva while poking around the US Digital Literacy site (there's a gold mine!)

Then I made something.

During our first week we looked at Doug Belshaw's Eight Elements of Digital Literacy, and I loved his graphic based on the periodic table.

When we started talking about Rheingold's literacies, my mind wanted to see everything in a way that I could easily compare them and think about how they overlapped or differed - but there was no quick visual available for Rheingold's list.

Until now!

I think I'll get some good mileage out of Canva.  It was very easy to use and I can already think of specific needs I have for upcoming presentations at work.  I'm glad I discovered it!

If you're interested in visual representations of  information, I recommend Information is Beautiful.

Rethinking Digital Literacy - week two begins!

Welcome back!  The second week of the ALA eCourse "Rethinking Digital Literacy to Serve Library Staff and Users" is sliding by already.  I'm feeling like the first week was just a warm up, and that we're really going to get into the thick of things this week!

Our first activity is to watch this video, then answer some questions.




What specific, identifiable digital skills and tools are they developing and using?

A lot!  Here's what I saw as I watched the video:

• Typing/keyboarding
• Presentations including visuals
• Contribution/collaboration (wiki)
• Writing
• Editing
• Fact checking
• Video editing
• Design layout (newspaper, yearbook, website)
• Filming
• Photography/image manipulation
• Public speaking (morning announcements)
• "copywriting" announcements
• video production
• Skype (video conferencing)
• Online social communication
• Computer network
• Hardware maintenance

Some things are implied based on what I saw, but that's a pretty packed list of skills.  The one word that springs to mind to describe a lot of the things they're doing is COLLABORATION.  I don't recall much in the way of that when I was in school, until much later in library school when I had a few group projects.  I'm not sure I'd call some of those very good examples of collaboration, to be honest.

How much of what those young learners can do are we able to do?

Speaking for myself, I'm not doing too shabby compared to them.  In a pinch, I could do most of these things to some degree if needed.  My weakness is video production/editing.  It's just not something I've been particularly interested in, and therefore I haven't done any on my own.

Okay, maybe there was that one time I added music to a video clip of my son feeding pancakes to seagulls.

When I think about my coworkers, I see a broad spectrum (there's that word again!) of skills depending on the individual.  Some of us are more eager and interested in learning how to do new things with technology, and pursue it outside of work.  This is great, as we bring those skills with us every day and they often come in handy!  Some staff learn what's needed to get the job done and do a bit with tech for personal reasons, but aren't as into it.  I also observe staff that are proficient with computers as a tool to look things up and otherwise serve our users, but who aren't comfortable with the myriad of devices people bring in the door.  Quite a few of the above listed skills are still beyond many of my coworkers, primarily because they aren't needed in our day-to-day work.

Yet.

Rethinking Digital Literacy - Entering the Fray

I'm finding it difficult to believe that the first week of this course is over!  We all made our entrance to the learning space on Monday, and after reading and watching the initial pieces about digital literacy people began sharing their thoughts.

This week's assignment was to come up with a concise definition of digital literacy.

Easier said than done!

There are so many elements and variables, so rather than try to capture them all in my definition, I came up with this:

Digital Literacy is the synthesis of technology skills with the ability to consume and create information and communication in a digital environment.

I think a lot of people have a vague idea of what digital literacy is:

Using computers to do stuff!

We all know it really isn't that simple, but it can be difficult to describe.  Digital literacy is a spectrum of skills and knowledge, that much is clear.  It's not just the ability to use technology in a competent manner - what one does with it and how they do it is an important factor.

One resource I particularly enjoyed was Doug Belshaw's TEDx talk "The Essential Elements of Digital Literacies."  Not only did he have a delightful accent, but he also brought up a point that really struck home with me.  At about the 12:54 mark in his talk, he shared a slide showing the arrow of digital literacy pointing to the intersection of "individual interest" and "important issues."

INDIVIDUAL INTEREST.  This is what motivates people to improve their digital literacy skills (though they might not be thinking of what they're doing in those terms).  Certainly some people are forced into learning new skills depending on circumstance, but a good deal of digital literacy progress comes when an individual has a personal stake in the outcome.  Once I thought of a specific interest-based example, it became much easier to describe the progression of digital literacy skills including technical, cognitive, and social facets.

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I've already begun thinking about how what I learn in this course will inform my work.  One of my focuses for the next year and a half is to "create a standard of digital literacy for all public services staff."  If our staff isn't digitally literate, then how can we possibly help our library patrons improve their skills?  But what does it mean for library staff to be digitally literate?  How can I guide them to improve their skills without it seeming like something they grudgingly have to do?  These are just some of the questions I'll be looking to answer as I work through this course and beyond.

Cheers!