teaching and learning in a digital age: myths of digital competence

Teaching and Learning in a Digital Age:

Myths of Digital Competence

Blackboard Users ConferenceDurham

9-10 January 2014 Sue Watling

University of Lincoln

Help!

Image from http://babyurl.net/names/baby-domain-name/establishing-a-babys-digital-identity-by-registering-their-domain-name

?

Digital Natives

• Sticky image

• Digital Literacies

• Digital Scholarship

• Steep learning curves for all…

Marc Prensky (2001) ‘Digital Natives Digital Immigrants’ http://www.marcprensky.com

Neil Selwyn (2008) ‘The digital native myth and reality’http://tinyurl.com/pxedt3w

Digital Immigrants

• Support for virtual learning

• UCISA/JISC reports: development barriers include lack of time, money, training and the speed of digital change

• Risks of low development:

– Self-selection– DIY models– Digital divides and exclusions

Image from: http://blog.b2sm.de/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/evolution.png

Myths of digital competence

There’s no need to provide support or resource for digital ways of working e.g.

– digital literacies– digital scholarship– digital pedagogy

People know all this stuffthese days….

Need to bear in mind…

Not everyone:

•has a smart phone

•can use track changes

•manages their email

•knows about html view

•chats online

•uses a webcam or wiki,

•blogs …or is on Twitter…

Image from http://edutech4teachers.edublogs.org/files/2012/07/digital-footprint-1beuk2c.png

• Having to choose a webpage or blog to share was an interesting but daunting activity. 

• The induction activities taught me how to use a Wiki, this was something that I hadn't done before.

• I felt less comfortable with the discussion board. I didn't manage to include a picture.

• I have even more to learn about online learning than I thought.

• Being an online learner is a confusing experience. • I struggled to with some of the activities - my lack of

skill in using the technology coming to play here

Technological determinism

The belief virtual learning will:

•cut costs

•increase efficiency

•let you do more for less

•be intuitive, user friendly

Whose research is it anyway?

• Myths…can be based on assumptions

• Most staff are not learning technologists – but subject experts

It’s only easy if you know how...

• VLE challenge can’t be underestimated• Can’t know what you don’t know • technology change

= exponentiallyincreased

learning curves.• Digital immigrants need support too!    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHX-SjgQvQ&list=RDUOorZQLsmuA

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Sue Watling

swatling@lincoln.ac.uk Centre for Educational Research and Development

University of Lincoln

http://suewatling.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk

Twitter @suewatling