This document discusses the development of a digital and information literacy (DIL) framework at The Open University (OU). It provides background on the OU, which has over 240,000 students studying via open and distance learning. It then describes the development of the DIL framework, which was modeled after the OU's existing information literacy framework. The new framework identifies 5 broad competence areas and 5 stages of development. It is intended to help integrate DIL skills into course modules and measure student progression. Examples are given of how DIL looks in practice, such as students finding and analyzing images for a science course. Overall the document outlines the creation of the DIL framework to support digital skills at the OU.

1. Being digital: the development
of the DIL framework
Jo Parker
ACIL, Dublin, June 2013

2. Some OU facts and figures
• Delivering distance learning since 1969 via ‘supported
open learning’
• 240,000+ students, including overseas
• Around 7,000 tutors
• Average age of new students is 31
• 27% of new students are under 25

3. OU Library Services
• ….starts life in a cellar in London
• ….moves to Milton Keynes in 1969 and to a purpose
built building in 1971
• ….serves the needs of OU staff and researchers for the
next 20 years
• ….by mid-1990s, internet makes provision of a library
service to distance learning students a possibility
• ….1995 sees a change of strategy and direction
• …a strong emphasis now on student-facing services

4. IL gets social and creative….?
Information literacy:
knowing when and why
you need
information, where to
find it, and how to
evaluate, use and
communicate it in an
ethical manner
(CILIP, 2004)
Digital literacy:
… defines those
capabilities which fit an
individual for living,
learning and working in a
digital society (JISC, 2011)
+
=
Digital and
information
literacy

5. What is DIL at the OU?
For students
• The skills, competences, and
dispositions of OU students
using digital technologies to
achieve personal, study, and
work-related goals.

6. What is DIL at the OU?
For staff
• The skills, competences, and
dispositions of OU staff using
digital technologies to design,
develop and teach study
modules and programmes

7. Developing a framework for digital
and information literacy
• Information Literacy (IL)
Framework successfully used
since 2009 to integrate IL in
modules and qualifications
• Provided starting point for
Framework
• Developed via online
collaborative process with OU
stakeholders

8. The Framework
• Based on existing IL
levels framework
• 5 broad competence
areas (and outcomes)
• 5 broad stages of
development (broadly
mapped to OU levels of
study)
• Conversation starter –
articulates skills, focusses
on progression

12. What does DIL look like?
Practical science (2nd level)
Activity on finding images
relating to practical science:
• Respond to volcano image
• Find, describe and reference
own image, according to criteria
given; post to forum
• Respond to others’ postings and
nominate top 3; tutor compiles
group consensus on top 3
Image Editor (2007) Kilauea Volcano at
Mauna Ulu:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@
N07/2044855541/
Demonstrate the ability to
independently select
appropriate resources for
a task.
Contribute useful feedback
on others’ contributions to
an online interaction.

13. DIL in practice – what are we doing?
• Incorporating into learning design / course production
processes (DIL Framework facilitation cards available
from the JISC website)
• Mapping DIL in OU qualifications
• Articulating relationship of DIL to employability
• Liaison with faculties: identifying champions, leading
workshops, going to committees etc.

14. Being digital
• ‘Being digital’: bite-size interactive learning activities to
illustrate the skills
• Can be integrated into modules or used on a standalone
basis
• Includes self-assessment checklist
• New activities being added regularly

18. Digital and information literacy:
over to you….
• Still got your card?
–Note which skills area it covers
–Turn it over and look at the statements on the back
–Pick one or two statements and discuss with your
neighbour what this means to you.
–What might students ‘do’ in their module, either to
develop this skill, or to show they can do it?

19. Useful URLs
Digital and information literacy framework
http://www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/subsites/dilframew
ork
Being digital
http://www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/beingdigital/
Framework cards:
http://jiscdesignstudio.pbworks.com/w/page/48915295/O
ULDI-Information Literacy facilitation cards

20. Jo Parker
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices
Jo.parker@open.ac.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/joparkery