Challenging assumptions about IT skills in HE
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Transcript of Challenging assumptions about IT skills in HE
Challenging assumptions about IT skills in HE
Don’t assume, identify.
Stevie Farrell, Leeds Metropolitan [email protected]
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Rise in use of technology
Digital native theory
My response as IT tutor
Research refuting DN theory
Recommendations
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My background …
• Academic Skills tutor for IT • My academic journey with IT– Pre-technology undergraduate –Mid-technology PGCE student– Current-technology MA student
• Am very pro-technology
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My role as a tutor
• Tutorials and drop-in workshops
• Customised IT sessions • Development of IT
resources
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1. Rise in use of technology
• VLE • Increase in e-portfolios• Microsoft Office or similar• Increasing use of other technologies
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The digital native
The theorists
– Tapscott (1998)
– Prensky (2001)
– Oblinger (2003)
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My response as an tutor?
WHAT THE ??!!!
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Autumn & Spring Terms 2009-10
Autumn & Spring Terms 2010-11
Autumn & Spring Terms 2011-12
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Growth in IT support
Drop in IT workshops Customised workshopsTutorials
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Common questions at the IT Helpdesk
• Individual page pagination• Section breaks• Table of contents• Headings and other styles• Advanced numbering• Excel basics• Insert text boxes/shapes
Charts/graphs and data series• Inserting images/text• Shape/image effects• Animations
• Printing and scanning• Resetting passwords• Wireless setup/use of• File locations• File suffixes• What ‘Drive’ letters mean• Using Google Email • Email attachments• Saving and downloading• Accessing VLE and Portal• Bookmarking websites
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3. The digital native?
• Non homogenous student population
• Don’t learn by exploration alone
• Social use of technology versus academic use
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4. Recommendations• Establish an effective
digital literacy policy• Don’t assume,
identify! • Have support in place
for students who need it• Up to date research
across UK HE needed
Make IT a core Study Skill
Challenging assumptions about IT skills in HE
Don’t assume, identify
Stevie Farrell, Leeds Metropolitan [email protected]