IRG Recruitment Process

I first saw the IRG Researcher job advertised on banner(the university's intranet). A week earlier I had decided  my final year project was going to focus on Technology Enhanced Learning, so when I read the brief about what the job entailed, I thought it would give me an opportunity to discover more about Technology and Learning. I did not see it as a job initially.

Having browsed through the project material online, my initial understanding of it was that it was going to investigate the level of digital literacies in students. I filled out the form with this view. It was while I was preparing the artefact that I got a wider view. I understood that there where more stake holders than students ie employers and staff. I had also never thought about the concept of us living in a digital age and the need for people to have these literacies. (I guess because I have always been keen on exploring technology and have therefore lived a 'digital life' ).

In making the artefact I knew I had to communicate what I understood the project was and what I would bring to the group if I was chosen. First thoughts were...''I think they want someone who is digitally literate and knows some programming'' so I set out to 'impress'. I therefore decided to make a photo slider using html and JavaScript. (don't know if it impressed). After the technical issues were sorted, it was the thinking about what I want to present that made me read more about what the project was about. It was then that I kind of grasped the concept that we are learning, living and working in a digital world.

I found the workshops interesting. I have no problem working in groups so I was comfortable. As for the tasks, I remember the first one was about us filming(cant remember what the topics were). We all had to be filmed saying something. I enjoyed this task. In the second task we had to draw and write one word that had something to do with digital literacy!. I remember feeling a little inadequate about the task. I am more creative with the mouse than with pen and paper. ie ratio-wise maybe 9:1. I dread telling me to draw stuff! All I remember is that my final product on that A4 was something that looked miserable... and I remember thinking, what is the point of this anyway!...(lol.. Sorry Tony!). Here is the worst bit: We then had to take a picture with what we had created. I was not prepared for that.The thought of my face being attached to that drawing still gives me nightmares!....

The interesting bit was the discussions we had on the table. There was a gentleman who kept asking random questions. I enjoyed the discussions very much and made an effort to engage.

I was pleased when I received an email that I have got the job. The journey so far has been great!

Should Digital Literacies(as a subject) be a pre-requisite for Entry into University?

We all know that before we are admitted to university in the UK, there are standard entry requirements that are needed. These include your Maths and English GCSE alongside other pre-requisite's depending on your chosen discipline. I was refused entry to a Maths undergraduate degree because I did not have 'Math's A levels' even if I had other qualifications and the propensity to display my arithmetic skills.

As I continue reading and researching about Digital Literacies and looking at how technology is quickly advancing and increasingly being integrated in our daily lives, I cant help but pose the question: Should there be a required standard in digital literacies for those that want to join higher education?  I know very well that digital literacies can be broad and the task would be on educational bodies to regulate and define the parameters of these standards, however, trends in this subject area change very often. Being in the technology industry, I know very well that this and many other factors would make the task of setting standards a difficult one. Still, we are getting into higher eduction, graduating as professionals, and being released in the digital jungle some of us with the digital skills by default because of the course we did, and others with just little know how. Where do we draw the line and who is responsible for drawing this line? The student or the Educational bodies? I personally think that most of these digital literacy skills can be acquired at lower levels of education and that universities should set a minimum standard as part of entry level requirements to combat some of the issues being faced by graduates in the work place.

The Digital Text Books Era

Digital devices are slowly but surely taking over text books. We see universities like Stanford in USA offering all its first year medical students Ipads to ease the load of text books. Louise Robinson the new leader of a top girls school in her first interview stated that  "In future, pupils will access texts through smartphones and e-readers. Taking on board the fact that textbooks will be on your mobile, whatever shape, name or type of fruit your mobile relates to... anywhere, any time, any place – it's a huge possibility," she said. Pupils could learn more from the "magic" of using smart phones and tablets than from simply reading a book, she argued. Mrs Robinson, who is head of Merchant Taylors' Girls' School in Crosby, Liverpool, added: "I can understand the concept that there's the real smell of a very old book – I'm not going to throw them on the bonfire at all. I do believe that there will be a time and a place for going to look at an old book – but when you're doing class reading, why buy the hard copy?"

Electronic books continue to generate strong interest in the consumer sector and are increasingly available on campuses as well. Modern electronic readers support note-taking and research activities, and are beginning to augment these basic functions with new capabilities. From immersive experiences to support for social interaction — that are changing our perception of what it means to read.

Forgotten Places: How Digital Media Can Help Support Small, Rural Communities

An interesting article I thought I'd share..

4year old VS 30year Old...Digi what?

Do we really need to inform today's generation about being digital?
I went to Comet with my four year old the other day, and as I went on about my business trying to find a good telly, he stealthy walked off to the 'Tablets' section, picked up a demo Ipad 2 and swiped his little fingers to some game apps, took a few pictures's of his little round face, and when he was finished, he came and found me and demanded I bought him an Ipad. He dragged me to the gadget and showed me all the amazing things you could do with it...
That evening, a friend of mine (25years older than my son) came to visit and knowing he wanted to shoot off, I informed him I had an app on my android that would inform him what time the bus is coming so he didn't have to wait in the cold. Looking at me funny he asks..what is an android?..before I could even answer, my son runs over, grabs my phone and says I will show you how to find the bus times and of course he did..
See, I never expected my nearly 30 year old guest not to know about this whole 'android/apps world' because you see my four year old 'knows it all'!  I then realised that it is easy to make assumptions about people's abilities and knowledge regarding the digital world and technology.
So back to the question, do we really need to inform this generation about being digital? I think the answer is........'it depends'..(eyes wide open...shrugging my shoulders). Maybe if I took the word 'generation' out of the question and replaced it with 'people in general'.. then the answer would be....YES!

In our IRG meeting least week we discussed a few factors that would be taken into consideration when we think about people and issues relating to digital literacies. One of the factors that I placed high on my list was cognition. I believe it is important for people to understand why they need to be digitally literate. I think we need to start a revolution where we get people to start asking themselves questions like: Why do I need to know about the digital world? How will it help me? Where am I going to use the skills? When am I going to use them? If I dont jump on the digital wagon, then what? If they understand some of the answers to these questions, then maybe, just maybe they will not feel alienated by living, learning and working in this digital society.Oh wait..! and they will know to get an android phone, download the London Buses app, and save themselves time standing in the cold waiting for a bus that is 20 mins away!...ok Cynthia, enough already!.. Adios