Pathways to participation in the Digital World:
What happens when people with literacy difficulties begin to use ICT for the first time?
Leo Casey, NALA ALO Forum
23rd of April, 2009
What is a basic literacy?
Digital literacy as a basic literacy
Insights from learning for digital literacy
How should educators respond?
Literacy
… as Skills
Individual have/have not
Specific to technology/software
Measured by tests
Quantitative research
…as Social Practice
Associated with situations
Shared meaning
Emphasis on tasks and activities
Qualitative research
Digital Literacy
Print Literacy
Computer Literacy
Information
Literacy
Med
ia L
itera
cy
Literacy and Literacies
What do we mean by a ‘basic’ literacy
The question is why we describe some practices, such as using digital technologies, or using numbers in everyday situations, as basic literacies and not others?
A basic literacy is...
Associated with a situation or practice not with an individual
Such a practice has significant social or economic value
The practice is pervasive – difficult to avoid
Digital Literacy is a basic literacy
The Digital World
Across the 25 EU Member States
37% of people aged 16 - 74 lack basic computer skills
61% of people over 55 years of age have never used a computer
80% of the over 55s with lower-levels of education have never used a computer
Source: Eurostat - Statistics in Focus, 2006, No. 17. European Commission
Interview Participants
BEN
Ben is 48 years oldBen is 48 years old
Works in transportWorks in transport
Connects with the office for Connects with the office for docketsdockets
Sees others using computersSees others using computers
Feels left out and alienatedFeels left out and alienated
Wants to be Wants to be competentcompetent - do his - do his own docketsown dockets
and and participateparticipate - book holidays - book holidays on the Internet, send e-mailson the Internet, send e-mails
Adult Learners
Learn what they want to learn and what they perceive as useful and they integrate new learning with past experience
Tusting, K. and Barton, D. (2003) Models of adult learning: a literature review,
National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy and numeracy.
Institute of Education, UK.
From the student’s perspective...
Three significant concepts influencing learning for basic computer skills:
Competence Desire
The Digital World
Learning Identity
Competence Desire
General Competence Desire
Specific Competence Desire
The Digital World
I am outside the Digital World
The Digital World is to be respected even feared
Mary: I just felt that I was left out of it I mean I tried to use it a few times and he [her son] nearly …died because he knew I couldn’t use it properly.
Mary: I was too afraid because as you get older in life technology … you kind of fear it because you didn’t grow up with it, really … and I was a bit scared of it
The Digital World
I did not always have a need to be part of the Digital World but I do now
The Digital World is up there.
Marie: … being left out of it? I think yes probably. As I get older I think it’s something that I would use more and more (because it connects you?) yes with people, family and friends.
Mary: I mean, I drive a car I passed my test I didn’t [ fail]…but for some reason, that… didn’t seem as big as actually … using a computer isn’t it funny! It was more manual, it was more hands on … where computers are kind of up there you know.
Learning Identity
Mary, the 53-year-old retail worker
The reason I decided to participate in the course was as there was a computer in my home that my son used and he was very good at.
I just felt that I was left out of it I mean I tried to use it a few times and he nearly … died because he knew I couldn’t use it properly.
Mary, the 53-year-old retail worker (continued)
And to be honest even to go on the Internet and look up things or even write a letter or e-mail I always felt excluded
and at this moment in life everyone’s talking about e-mails, everyone’s talking about Internet and I was totally out of that, because I didn’t know how to use it properly
Ben, 48 year old dockland worker
It’s just that I worked around computers that I never went near them ... in the last job I was in.
What I didn’t learn from...them, what I could have learned, and I’m just ignorant passing by them every day knowing that ‘here could you print me this’ or ‘do this on it’ and all that
Ben, 48 year old dockland worker
I remember the teacher saying this’ll do you a world of good.
Yeh right!
Just give me a shovel and I’ll dig a hole .… what do I need a computer for to dig a hole
but now-a-day if you see people digging a hole they have to take measurements … it’s all back, all paperwork’s back into computers
Ben, 48 year old dockland worker
.... broadband or whatever that is but it’s a new word for me.
So what is that?
It’s not like I just learn the word.
I know the word broadband but you have to learn ... tell me what it is, even though I know the name I don’t know what it means or what it is.
Tim -65 year old recent retiree
Dear Gerry,I would like to make a suggesting as the people have no trust in the Government. As we have seen what people power can do would it not be better if all the sporting people of the country got behind the Garda. And used the a credential email address to the garda of any thing that could be helpful or any other About this case thing they see if we are to put a stop to all of the murders …. this could happing again to any of us if we are in the wrong place at the wrong time Please don't mention my name.
A Grounded Theory
How should educators respond?
The challenge and the opportunity
The Digital World – Narrow the Gap
Pedagogic strategies need to deal with the Digital World.
Non-users should to be invited in; to explore in confidence and without risk.
This may be achieved by means of stories of role models, people like themselves, who are now active with ICT.
Competence Desire – Get Specific
Competence Desire is a powerful pro-disposition to support adult students as they begin to use new technologies
By focusing on specific tasks and outcomes, learners can avail of the immediate advantages of their actions
Competence desires may be harnessed as a means of setting goals for adult learning
Competence Desire – Get Specific
Learning is best supported by a close connection between the usage and learning context
• simulated environments for task completion, • safe zones for exploration without risk • choice and agency
In contrast, a generalised competence desire is less useful and may even reinforce feelings of inadequacy
Learning IdentityExperiences of school still loom large
Age and technology – older people are not expected to be good with technology.
Risk of learning - the potential pitfalls are • shame • fear of failure • wasted effort • and an expectation of school-like
situations.
Learning IdentityPedagogic strategies to help adult basic skills
learners to reconstruct their Learning Identities will focus on:
• self-esteem • re-appraisal of school experiences • planning for learning • experience of learning
Thank You