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.