Digital literacies refer to the capabilities needed to live, learn, and work in a digital society. They include skills like using digital tools to do academic research, writing, critical thinking, personal development planning, and showcasing achievements. The JISC defines digital literacies as skills that allow individuals to function in a digital world. Developing digital literacies is important for employability as many jobs now require basic computer skills. The "Pirate Model" of learning - Assess, Analyze, Acquire, Articulate, Reflect (AAAAR) - provides a framework for continuously improving one's digital skills through self-assessment, identifying gaps, gaining new skills, communicating abilities to others, and reflecting

1. Digital Literacies
Skills for the future
Pat Parslow
p.parslow@reading.ac.uk

2. Skills for the future
• Digital Literacies:
– Make your life easier
– Increase your employability
– Allow you to have an Agile approach

3. Employability?

4. What are “Digital Literacies”?
Yes, that is a question – that means you get to answer it!
Please fill in Questionnaire 1 now

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

9. 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.

11. 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.

14. How do you learn new digital skills?
License Some rights reserved by DeusXFlorida

15. 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?

16. http://www.flickr.com/photos/greyloch/5180620832/ CC-BY-SA licence
Pirate Learning
Assess, Analyse, Acquire, Articulate, Reflect:
AAAR!

17. Why?
Maybe a little motivational song…

18. The ‘Elevator pitch’:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=begvbqFA
YnM

19. 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

20. 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!)

21. 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…

22. 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

23. 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-publications/insights-reports-and-
videos/technology-insights-2011/technology-insights-2011-key-findings

24. 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

25. Figure 2 CC-BY rfduck http://flickr.com/photos/rfduck

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

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

28. Figure 1 CC-BY-SA CafeYak.com http://www.flickr.com/people/14893221@N06

29. 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, what’s the worst that can happen?

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