IOE JISC project methodology from Lesle

Digital Literacies as a Post-graduate Attribute

was a JISC-funded project at the Institute of

Education (IOE) from 2011 to 2013 managed by

Dr. Lesley Gourlay and Professor Martin Oliver.

Aims of the Project

1. To understand the needs of three main groups

of students at the Institute of Education (IOE):

Doctoral

Taught Masters

PGCE.

2. To investigate institutional readiness for

sustainable change around digital literacies in

terms of:

Processes

Relationships

Staff Expertise.

3. To implement three initiatives, addressing

different areas of need:

Developing support for distance students' in

academic writing.

Exploring students' use of the library and

developing online support.

Exploring staff digital literacies and

developing support materials.

Objectives

1. To gain in-depth understanding of IOE students’

digital literacies using ethnographic methods.

2. To evaluate the current provision and

opportunities for IOE students.

3. To review IOE institutional readiness for change

around digital literacies.

4. To implement three pilots developing digital

literacies across different contexts.

5. To explore the needs of IOE staff tasked with

developing student digital literacies.

6. To develop exemplar organisational strategies

focused on digital literacies as a graduate

attribute.

7. To maintain dialogue with partners e.g. SEDA,

ALT and SCONUL and to ensure dissemination to

the sector.

Methodology

Baseline work, year 1

Survey analysis

Focus groups (PGCE, taught Masters, distance

Masters, PhD students)

Longitudinal, multimodal journaling (12 students, 9-12

months, 3-4 interviews, images, video and text)

Intervention work, year 2

Synchronous tutorials (Academic Writing Centre)

Interactive guides (Newsam Library)

Staff digital literacies (Learning Technologies)

Process

The focus groups facilitated students discussing the

challenges of pursuing different courses at different

levels in contrasting modes.

The multimodal journal task was designed to provide

opportunities to gain insights into students’ engagement

with technologies over time, based on their day-to-day

practices.

Volunteers were given handheld iPod Touch devices to

document their experiences and practices.

Three to four interviews were held with each participant

throughout the data collection period, with interviews

being structured thematically around the images, videos

and notes created by the students, or focusing on

presentations created by them.

Final interviews focused on students’ engagements with

particular texts, and how technologies and devices had

been deployed in the various processes of searching,

reading, note-taking and writing.

Key Messages from the Digital Literacies Project

Digital literacy ...

must be understood holistically, considering practices and identities; one method does not fit all.

and digital processes are as varied, diverse and complex as the contexts within which students

live.

changes over time; people learn and forget and technologies develop and adapt to settings.

is constantly evolving as resilient students develop individual strategies to manage a vast array of

resources, technologies and information.

should not be understood solely in terms of skills; digital literacy needs to take into account who is

doing what, where and how.

Actions for the Newsam Library

The Library will ...

develop IOE LibGuides, LibAnswers and LibChat to support and scaffold

learning.

implement a Discovery layer on the library website.

continue to provide mandatory MPhil/PhD & BA training as well as timely

and focused support for MAs and other students.

collaborate to create easily accessible physical and digital resources and

spaces.

Findings

Resilience, Diversity & Complex Contexts

Students ...

are resilient in the face of change and quickly

reject digital processes that are not reliable.

have diverse experiences, different levels of

competencies and learn in different ways.

conduct digital processes across multiple contexts

with different devices.

use multiple spaces and enlist complex

connections and devices to store and share digital

information.

Time, Space & Mobility

Students ...

engage with the digital in four key physical spaces:

institution & library, home, transport and public

spaces.

want digital resources to be easily accessible,

open, mobile-friendly and readable on all devices.

want flexible physical and digital access to

information.

want access to digital information to be time-

efficient suited to their needs.

Support Systems & Digital Library

Students …

want digital literacy support to be targeted,

contextualised and cost efficient.

want the digital library to be open and easily

accessible on a range of devices.

want simplification of regulations and

standardisation of e-infrastructures.

want library tutorials/workshops to be suited to

students’ timetables and needs.

More at: Digital Literacies as a Post-graduate Attribute -- JISC Design Studio and Digital Literacies in Higher Education -- IOE LibGuide