This document discusses students' digital literacy transitions from college to university. It presents questionnaires given to students at all levels to identify key transition points. The questionnaires aimed to improve understanding of digital literacy needs but response was disappointing. Two students' transition journeys are depicted, showing increasing demands and skills from levels 1 to 3. The document outlines questions around ensuring students are equipped with digital literacy skills and identifies an action plan for staff, such as integrating digital literacies into teaching and using e-portfolios to support reflection.

1. Digital Literacies & Transition
Nadia Ashrafi & Zainab Kalokoh

2. The Transition Journey
(Student Questionnaires)
 Intended to identify the key moments of university experience. E.g when students first
noticed how different university was going to be from their college experience, when
they wrote their first 1500 word essay or even when they decided that university or
their chosen programme was for them.
 Students from all levels took part in questionnaire.
 Could this information possibly help improve digital literacies?

3. Zainab’s Transition Journey
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Start FinishMiddle
Adapting to a
new (more
advanced &
independent)
style of learning
More Practical
based & Interactive
learning (Group
work, case studies)
Really thinking
outside the box,
critical thinking,
being current,
getting ready for
the future!
Completely
understand
aspects of DL
Research
development&
social
engagement
Reflect on
achievement

4. Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Start FinishMiddle
Getting used to
organising
things
Learnt Research
& Professional
skills in a more
advanced way
Stepping into
Research Life
Engagement,
influence &
Impact
Knowledge &
Intellectual
abilities
Highlight value
of development
opportunities
Assess
strengths and
areas for
development
Deeper level
of learning
Engaging
with
Reflection
Nadia’s Transition Journey

5. Key Issues
• Are transition points early enough for students to be
comfortable in university education?
• Can digital devices aid their transition?
• Are students fully equipped with DL skills to
progress through their course and find employment
thereafter?
• Do they have these devices/technology at their
disposal?
• What can university/Staff do about this?

6. Action Plan
WHAT SHOULD STAFF DO?
• Recognise that students arrive with their own digital
practices
• Begin by exploring the ways in which the group are
already using mobile and web based technologies
• Understand learners personal digital literacies before
ploughing into 'supporting' them

7. • Integrate Digital Literacies into teaching curriculum
and assessment through study skills
i.e Providing authentic contexts for practice,
including digitally-mediated contexts
• Supporting the use of e-portfolios for reflection,
planning and self-presentation

8. Disappointing however….
• Most students were reluctant to fill forms or talk
about their transition in a short video
• Some only identified transition point towards the end
of their course (3rd year)
• When asked ‘what digital devices have you used
today’, most students did not mention mobile phones.
Do students not realise the importance of such digital
device.

9. Students experience in digital Literacy Transitions