I just attended Learn 4 Life Digital Literacy Conference in Second Life held by some of my UK peers and now part of my network. It was a wonderful thought provoking session hence this posting.

I am also working on a paper on Digital Literacy for Higher Education Educators. I am using this public arena to get my thoughts together and hopefully get some feed back.

Web 2.0 is a new era where, unlike web1.0 where we only took in information, we now have a 2-way system:

1. take in
2. push out
   (also known as communication)

We take in, transform, remix, remodel, refine from our point of view (our cultural point of view) and then push out to social media like blogs, wikis, 2nd life ect.

In this new era, we need a digital grammar and syntax of media -> mechanics of using media as well as the critical eye.

Defining Digital Literacy:

Tabatha Newman defines Digital literacy = digital tool knowledge + critical thinking + social awareness

Josie Fraser defines Digital literacy = digital tool knowledge + critical thinking + social engagement

Howard Rheingold defines Digital literacy = attention + participation + collaboration + network savy + critical assumption (dealing with the crap)

Howard feels it is no longer a question of ‘growing up digital’ or the ‘digital divide’ but it is now the ‘can’ and ‘cannots’. We currently make assumptions about the students that aren’t necessarily true. Since they grow up digital, then they must already know the ‘how to use tech” and must be helped with the critical thinking. But that is not always the truth.

I have come a cross many college students that don’t know how to sign up for google online apps like google docs or why you would use it. I only know of a hand full that know about wikis of blogs. Using a simple online tool like gliffy.com stumps them.

We need to teach

• how to use tech tools effectively with teaching and learning
• how to transfer the skills learned in one tool to another – teach user interface transferable skills
• how to build learning communities with these tools
• how to participate
• how to recognize authenticity  (no crap please)
• how to use knowledge to define the new ways of working

Howard Rheingold
Digital divide is no longer have and have not but can and cannot

It’s not just western society that is using social media to influence politics.
Cynthia Schneider looks at two international “American Idol”-style shows — one in Afghanistan, and one in the United Arab Emirates — and shows the surprising effect that these reality-TV competitions are creating in their societies.

Less is more
KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid
We have all heard it before but how do you apply it to a PowerPoint? Below is a PowerPoint on the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ of PowerPoints.
I often have instructors asking how to make their colourful PowerPoints available to students. I advise them to make 2 presentations. One for the delivery and one for printing. Better still, create a black and white print (pdf) of your PowerPoint with 3 slides per page. I have found that students prefer 3 slides per page. It saves paper and gives enough room for notes, if students take notes.

Reading, writing… and texting? Stanford University’s Andrea Lunsford on the myths and realities of digital literacy.

I will be using this page to add pdfs on Howto do things on FOL for students and faculty

• HowTo use the Dropbox
  

When it Comes to Digital Literacy, Don’t Be a Billy!

Analyst Richard St. John condenses years of interviews at TED… to work out what makes people successful. He discovered 8 things that lead to success.

A good discussion starter for your meetings or courses.

Review – 8 things for success

Lord Puttnam message about barriers in education systems and new ways of teaching in the XXI century.

4 key factors to change management

1. Involve Your Team
2. Communicate Constantly
3. Plan Properly
4. Don’t let up