Using digital literacy to develop academic literacy

Elizabeth Stokes – EIS

Paula Bernaschina - ELLS

How it started

Elizabeth Stokes – module leader of 'Study Skills and Mathematics' from the Department of Computing and Multimedia Technology (CMT) in the School of Engineering and Information Sciences (EIS)

Paula Bernaschina – English Language and Learning Support (ELLS) co-ordinator for EIS

Students from Elizabeth's Foundation year module 'Study Skills and Mathematics‘ interviewed other Middlesex University students about the do's and don'ts of academic writing.

What do you think?

In a small group discuss the following:

What do you consider to be the do’s and don’ts of academic writing?

(approx. 5 minutes)

What they said

Analysed reports from 11 pairs/groups

The main focus was on surface errors

For example

• Check your spelling• Don't use contractions• Use appropriate vocabulary• Have an introduction and a conclusion

What they said

Some did go beyond surface errors...

4 out of the 11 groups mentioned drafts5 out of 11 mentioned research

What was missing from most

The writing process

Critical thinking

What do you think?

In a small group discuss the following:

What do these phrases mean to you?

• The writing process

• Critical thinking

Students’ perspective? http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunface13/2597074553/

What to do now

How can digital literacy help develop academic literacy?

What can students do/use to make themselves more aware of the writing process and the critical thinking necessary in academic work?

Literacies

What is academic literacy?

What is digital literacy?

How are the two connected?How can they influence each other?

Literacies

Are students more aware of critical thinking in the digital world and not in paper texts?

How can digital literacy be used to develop academic literacy?

Web 2.0 applications that can be used to assist in developing academic literacy.

Elizabeth taught the students how to create blogs

The blogs were used to establish quantitative evidence and provide a place for the exchange of ideas

Ideas

BlogsTwitter

FacebookPodcastsVodcasts

Second Life

Anything else?

What do you think?

In a small group discuss the following:

How can we use these applications to increase students’ critical thinking?

Something to think about

Adapted from Futurelab.org.uk

Research Writing Academic Digital

Reflection

After much thinking...

The idea of reflection kept coming up

• What is being done to increase students’ skills in reflection?

• Are the attempts successful?

• What can we do to improve this skill?