Being digital: the development of the DIL framework

Jo Parker

ACIL, Dublin, June 2013

Some OU facts and figures

• Delivering distance learning since 1969 via ‘supported open learning’

• 240,000+ students, including overseas• Around 7,000 tutors• Average age of new students is 31• 27% of new students are under 25

OU Library Services• ….starts life in a cellar in London• ….moves to Milton Keynes in 1969 and to a purpose

built building in 1971• ….serves the needs of OU staff and researchers for the

next 20 years• ….by mid-1990s, internet makes provision of a library

service to distance learning students a possibility• ….1995 sees a change of strategy and direction• …a strong emphasis now on student-facing services

IL gets social and creative….?

Information literacy:knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner (CILIP, 2004)

Digital literacy:… defines those capabilities which fit an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society (JISC, 2011)

+

=Digital and information literacy

What is DIL at the OU?For students

• The skills, competences, and dispositions of OU students using digital technologies to achieve personal, study, and work-related goals.

What is DIL at the OU?For staff

• The skills, competences, and dispositions of OU staff using digital technologies to design, develop and teach study modules and programmes

Developing a framework for digital and information literacy• Information Literacy (IL)

Framework successfully used since 2009 to integrate IL in modules and qualifications

• Provided starting point for Framework

• Developed via online collaborative process with OU stakeholders

The Framework

• Based on existing IL levels framework

• 5 broad competence areas (and outcomes)

• 5 broad stages of development (broadly mapped to OU levels of study)

• Conversation starter – articulates skills, focusses on progression

What does DIL look like? Practical science (2nd level)

Activity on finding images relating to practical science:

• Respond to volcano image• Find, describe and reference own

image, according to criteria given; post to forum

• Respond to others’ postings and nominate top 3; tutor compiles group consensus on top 3

Image Editor (2007) Kilauea Volcano at Mauna Ulu: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2044855541/

Demonstrate the ability to independently select appropriate resources for a task.

Contribute useful feedback on others’ contributions to an online interaction.

DIL in practice – what are we doing?• Incorporating into learning design / course production

processes (DIL Framework facilitation cards available from the JISC website)

• Mapping DIL in OU qualifications

• Articulating relationship of DIL to employability

• Liaison with faculties: identifying champions, leading workshops, going to committees etc.

Being digital• ‘Being digital’: bite-size interactive learning activities to

illustrate the skills• Can be integrated into modules or used on a standalone

basis• Includes self-assessment checklist• New activities being added regularly

Digital and information literacy: over to you….• Still got your card?

–Note which skills area it covers–Turn it over and look at the statements on the back–Pick one or two statements and discuss with your

neighbour what this means to you. –What might students ‘do’ in their module, either to

develop this skill, or to show they can do it?

Useful URLs

Digital and information literacy framework http://www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/subsites/dilframework

Being digitalhttp://www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/beingdigital/

Framework cards: http://jiscdesignstudio.pbworks.com/w/page/48915295/OULDI-Information Literacy facilitation cards

Jo Parker The Open UniversityWalton HallMilton KeynesMK7 6AA

www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices

Jo.parker@open.ac.uk

Twitter: twitter.com/joparkery