A presentation to support the 'unkeynote' I did with Doug Belshaw for the CITE Southampton Digital Literacy conference on 14 June 2012. #sotondiglit

1. Sue Beckingham and Doug Belshaw
Digital Literacy Conference
#sotondigilit

2. Connecting
the Digital
Dots: 21 st
Century
Digital
Literacy
ies
Sue Beckingham and Doug Belshaw
Digital Literacy Conference
#sotondigilit

3. Sue Beckingham
@suebecks

5. Do we remember what
literacy used to be?
Was it simply the
3 Rs?:
Reading
wRiting
aRithmitic

6. algoRithms

7. Literacy has been described as the ability to read for
knowledge and write coherently and think critically about the written
word. Literacy can also include the ability to understand all forms of
communication, be it body language, pictures, video or sound
(reading, speaking, listening and viewing).
Evolving definitions of literacy often include all the symbol systems
relevant to a particular community. Literacy encompasses a complex
set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems
of a culture for personal and community development.
In a technological society, the concept of literacy is expanding to
include the media and electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and
number systems. These abilities vary in different social and cultural
contexts according to need and demand.

8. A Public Computer Image in Pittsburgh: Literacy Windows
(Link and Speranza 1992)

9. Literacy encompasses a
complex set of abilities
¨ Natural Literacy
¨ Artistic Literacy
¨ Media Literacy
¨ Ethical Literacy
¨ Visual Literacy
¨ Numerical Literacy Literacies
¨ Social/Cultural Literacy
¨ Emotional Literacy
¨ Organisational Literacy
¨ Environmental Literacy
¨ Scientific Literacy
Mackenzie 2009

10. Knowledge of a particular
subject, or a particular type
of knowledge?
What other
Literacies are
there?

11. Trying to provide just
one definition
could quite easily get
anyone into a tangle!

12. So trying to
define what is
meant by Digital
Literacy may not
be simply
weaving together
one statement.
It needs
CONTEXT

13. Context + access, skills and practices

14. “By digital literacy we mean those
capabilities which fit an individual
for living, learning and working in
a digital society.” (Beetham, 2009)

15. Context
For example:
• the use of digital tools to undertake academic research,
writing and critical thinking
• digital professionalism
• the use of specialist digital tools and data sets
• communicating ideas effectively in a range of media
• producing, sharing and critically evaluating information
• collaborating in virtual networks
• using digital technologies to support reflection and PDP
• managing digital reputation and showcasing
achievements.
(Beetham, for JISC 2012)

16. ICT literacy is using
digital technology,
communications tools,
and/or networks
to access, manage,
integrate, evaluate,
and create information
in order to function in a
knowledge society
(International ICT Literacy Panel, 2002)

17. ICT LITERACY
ACCESS MANAGE INTEGRATE EVALUATE CREATE
Increasing complexity of knowledge and expertise
e.g. literacy, e.g. knowledge of
numeracy, hardware,
problem ICT Proficiency software,
solving, spacial Cognitive Technical networks and
and visual Proficiency Proficiency elements of
literacy skills digital technology
(Adapted from the International ICT Literacy Panel Report, 2002:18)

18. ICT LITERACY
ACCESS MANAGE INTEGRATE EVALUATE CREATE
Increasing complexity of knowledge and expertise
ICT Proficiency
Cognitive Technical
Proficiency Proficiency
The integration and application of
cognitive + technical skills = ICT Proficiency
ICT Proficiencies are enablers which allow individuals to
maximise the capabilities of technology >>> innovation, individual
transformation and societal change

19. (Futurelab: Digital literacy across the curriculum 2010:19)

20. As you will come to
appreciate there are
in fact multiple
Digital Literacies and
21 st century skills

21. ?

22. The important
thing is to find
opportunities to
apply 21st
century skills to
learning and
teaching in a
variety of
contexts
(North Central Regional Technology in Education
Consortium (NCRTEC) 2002)

23. Doug Belshaw
@dajbelshaw / @dajbconf

51. Further Reading
JISC Developing
Digital Literacies