1. DIGITAL LITERACY
Simon Le Tocq
GTA University CENTRE

2. Setting the scene
• Nature of work is changing
• Networked society
• Rapid techno and socio-techno change
• Future workforce ‘Born digital’
• The average 13-17 year old owns six digital
devices (Logicalis, 2013)
The three ‘r’s are no longer enough..
We Need new literacies for successful
participation in society (Trans literacies)

3. BORN digital
“For my 1 year old daughter, A
Magazine Is an iPad That Does
Not Work.
It will remain so her whole
life.
Steve jobs has coded a part
of her os”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXV-yaFmQNk

4. what is literacy?
ACquiring literacy does not involve memorising
sentences, words or syllables … but rather an
attitude of creation and re-creation, a self-
transformation producing a stance of
intervention in one's context."
Paulo Freire, Education: The Practice of Freedom (1973)
The Ability to identify, understand, interpret,
create, communicate and compute, using
printed and written materials associated with
varying contexts
UNESCO (2004)

5. the Difference between
A literacy and A skill
First, we would expect literacies to be
foundational capabilities such as
reading, writing or numeracy, on which
more particular life skills depend.
Literacies (and their lack) must have a
lifelong, lifewide impact: they are
practices without which a learner is
impoverished in relation to culturally
valued knowledge.
Helen Beetham, 2013

6. but is digital really a literacy?
First, we would expect literacies to be
foundational capabilities such as reading,
writing or numeracy, on which more
particular life skills depend. Literacies
(and their lack) must have a lifelong,
lifewide impact: they are practices
without which a learner is impoverished in
relation to culturally valued knowledge.
On these grounds, it makes sense to talk
about literacy, or literacies, of the
digital.
Helen Beetham, 2013

7. BORN DIGITAL BUT..
The Average digital
birth of children
happens at about
6 months
can’t wait to get
out of here ... I so
need a new phone
a new phone!

8. BORN DIGITAL ≠ DIGITALLY LITERATE
Jaron lanier
“This review has summarised a
wealth of evidence to show
that today’s young people
have inadequate digital
literacy skills. There is often
a large gap in students’
perception versus the reality
of their digital literacy”.
Dr. Tabitha Newman (A Review of
Digital Literacy in 3-16 Year Olds)

9. We all fall somewhere along a continuum
between Digital Visitor and Digital Resident, from
very occasional online interaction, like
accessing your bank account, to the evolution
of a complex online presence through a variety
of platforms.”
Judy Bloxham (JISC, 2013))
WHITE and Le Cornu, (2011)
DIGITAL RESIDENTS and digital visitors

10. so, DIGITAL LITERACY is about learning
how to use an iPad, isn’t it?
I WILL practise
"thinking"
digital literacy
instead OF
"tool-based"
digital literacy

11. “WE shape our tools and
thereafter our tools shape us”
Marshall McLuHan
www.spritzinc.com

12. A definition
To be digitally literate is to have access to a
broad range of practices and cultural resources
that you are able to apply to digital tools. It
is the ability to make and share meaning
in different modes and formats; to create,
collaborate and communicate effectively and to
understand how and when digital technologies
can best be used to support these processes
futurelab, 2010

13. (here’s A shorter definition)
Digital literacies define those who exhibit a critical
understanding and capability for living, learning and
working in the digital society.
jisc, (2013)

14. digital literacy as an entitlement
In this increasingly digital world, digital literacy is
an important entitlement which enables people to
actively participate in their cultures and communities.
Developing students’ digital literacy furnishes them
with the skills, knowledge and understanding that
will help them to take a full and active part in
social, cultural, economic, civic and intellectual life
now and in the future.
futurelab, 2010

15. source: dr Doug Belshaw: www.dougbelshaw.com
DIGITAL LITERACYIES

16. DIGITAL LITERACIES: CRITICAL
Thomas Edison, 1879
SLIDE Adapted FROM:
http://giveupinternet.com/2009/01/14/mitchell-kapor-getting-information-off-the-internet-is-like-taking-a-drink-from-a-fire-hydrant-pic/

17. DIGITAL LITERACIES: CRITICAL
SLIDE Adapted FROM:
http://giveupinternet.com/2009/01/14/mitchell-kapor-getting-information-off-the-internet-is-like-taking-a-drink-from-a-fire-hydrant-pic/

18. DIGITAL LITERACIES: CRITICAL
“Every man should have a built-in
automatic crap detector operating
inside him.”
Ernest hemingway
SLIDE Adapted FROM:
http://giveupinternet.com/2009/01/14/mitchell-kapor-getting-information-off-the-internet-is-like-taking-a-drink-from-a-fire-hydrant-pic/

19. Digital LITERACIES: CIVIC
WHAT does your Digital footprint look like?
(Or not include..)
“In the future, your digital
footprint will carry far more
weight than anything you
might include on a resume”
Chris betcher

20. DIGITAL LITERACIES: CULTURAL (e-safety)
The App Store rates Tinder as being for ages 12+
due to "Infrequent/Mild Sexual Content or Nudity;
Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humor;
Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes."

21. mastery is not a linear process
IILlustrationfrom:DigitalandMediaLiteracy:Aplanofaction.(Hobbs,2011)
PRODUCER
commentator
joiner
gatherer
observer

22. DIGITAL LITERACIES: Creative (REMIXING)

23. DIGITAL LITERACIES: Creative
2014 the year of code

24. Ok, But what has digital literacy
got to do with me?
“3 in 5 SMEs claim low levels of
digital literacy are preventing
them from running their
businesses more effectively”
Digital literacy among small businesses in Australia
(paypal research findings October 2013)
“many computer users are
still uncomfortable on the
web because in businesses
today digital literacy is
assumed”
new zealand computer society inc report
a workforce that utilises its ‘digital first’
attributes to increase productivity will not
happen by itself
Logicalis, 2013

25. Reasons not to engage with
digital literacy

26. A change in perspective?
“digital literacy is
something that leaders
need to learn in order
to earn a position of
respect and trust
among generation-C”
brian solis, 2014

27. Reverse mentoring
“our digital native
employees are our hidden
competitive advantage”
marc prensky, 2014

28. WE ARE ALL STUDENTS again
QUOTE FROM brian solis, 2014

29. Thank you
Simon.letocq@gta.gg
“the illiterate of the 21st century will not be
those who cannot read and write, but those
who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn”
- alvin toffler