scholarly journals Digital Inclusion in Norwegian and Danish Schools—Analysing Variation in Teachers’ Collaboration, Attitudes, ICT Use and Students’ ICT Literacy

2020 ◽  
pp. 139-172
Author(s):  
Anubha Rohatgi ◽  
Jeppe Bundsgaard ◽  
Ove E. Hatlevik
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Teacher Collaboration ◽  
National Level ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Ict Literacy ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Teachers Attitudes ◽  
Computer And Information Literacy

AbstractThe capability to use digital technologies in an appropriate way has become a fundamental requirement of everyday life and wide adoption of digital technologies has gained a firm footing into the educational systems. Equity is a central goal in the Nordic model and ICT integration policies are warranted at the national level along with massive improvements in ICT infrastructures. The schools in their efforts towards realizing this objective have to integrate digital technology in teaching and learning in such a way that all children are given opportunities to participate in work, life and society. It is thus of interest to study the extent of digital inclusion, by examining the variation in computer and information literacy of students both within and between schools by addressing access and use of ICT in instruction among teachers. Data for the present study comes from 138 schools from Norway (2436 students, 1653 teachers) and 110 schools from Denmark (1767 students, 728 teachers) who took part in the International Computer and Information Literacy Study in 2013. Using a multilevel approach, variations at both levels in student computer and information literacy score and teacher collaboration in ICT use were examined. The results indicate that availability of digital technologies is a significant contributor towards student ICT achievement and teacher collaboration in both countries. There are small differences in computer and literacy score between the schools, while significant variations are noted between the students. Additionally, teachers’ attitudes are found to contribute significantly towards collaboration between teachers.

Diagnostik von ICT Literacy: Messen Multiple-Choice-Aufgaben und simulationsbasierte Aufgaben vergleichbare Konstrukte?

Diagnostica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-157
Author(s):  
Martin Senkbeil ◽  
Jan Marten Ihme
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Ict Literacy ◽  
Computer And Information Literacy ◽  
Literacy Test

Zusammenfassung. ICT Literacy legt eine performanzbasierte Erfassung mit simulierten und interaktiven Testaufgaben nahe. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht, ob mit Multiple-Choice (MC)-Aufgaben ein vergleichbares Konstrukt wie mit Simulationsaufgaben erfasst wird. Hierfür wurden die Testergebnisse zweier Instrumente aus aktuellen Large-Scale-Studien gegenübergestellt, die an N = 2 075 Jugendlichen erhoben wurden: der auf MC-Aufgaben basierende ICT Literacy-Test für Klasse 9 des Nationalen Bildungspanels (National Educational Panel Study, NEPS) und der simulationsbasierte Kompetenztest der internationalen Schulleistungsstudie ICILS 2013 (International Computer and Information Literacy Study). Die Analysen unterstützen die Gültigkeit der Konstruktinterpretation des MC-basierten Tests in NEPS. Im Sinne der konvergenten Evidenz korrelieren die MC-Aufgaben substanziell mit den computer- und simulationsbasierten Aufgaben in ICILS 2013 (.68 ≤  r ≤ .90). Weiterhin ergeben sich positive und für beide Tests vergleichbar hohe Korrelationen mit ICT-bezogenen Schülermerkmalen (z. B. Selbstwirksamkeit). Weiterführende Analysen zum Zusammenhang mit allgemeinen kognitiven Fähigkeiten zeigen zudem, dass ICT Literacy und kognitive Grundfähigkeiten distinkte Faktoren repräsentieren.

An evaluation of the library connectivity project through the lens of the digital inclusion model

2020 ◽  
Vol 121 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 805-827
Author(s):  
Daniel Azerikatoa Ayoung ◽  
Charles Bugre ◽  
Frederic Naazi-Ale Baada
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Investment Fund ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Electronic Communications ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Inclusion Model ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Computer And Information Literacy

Purpose It has been a decade, as the collaboration between the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) and the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA) to extend information and communication technology (ICT) and library services to rural deprived, unserved and underserved communities in Ghana dubbed the library connectivity project. This paper aims to evaluate this initiative from the perspective of relevant key stakeholders and through the lens of the digital inclusion model. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a qualitative approach to evaluate the library connectivity project offered to deprived communities in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Interviews were conducted with the head librarians, ICT teachers and school librarians. Focus group discussions were held with pupils from four beneficiary schools of the project. The researchers also witnessed four of the outreach programmes and training sessions and observed the mode of instruction. Findings The study brought to fore the enormous benefits of the library connectivity project as it aided school pupils to acquire practical ICT skills, which were found to be useful towards their final exam. Despite the enormous benefit of the project, it was bereft with a lot of challenges such as inadequate logistics and personnel thereby restricting the project to very few schools. Low staff motivation and unmotorable roads were also found to be a challenge, which could all be as a result of lack of funds. Research limitations/implications The paper underscores the importance of computer and information literacy and reveals how the GhLA is using innovative mobile library services to bridge the digital divide through the library connectivity project. Originality/value This paper makes a further contribution to the paucity of literature on the role of mobile libraries in the promotion of computer and information literacy.

scholarly journals The impact of digital pedagogy training on in-service teachers’ attitudes towards digital technologies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nonmanut Pongsakdi ◽  
Arto Kortelainen ◽  
Marjaana Veermans
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Level ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Digital Culture ◽  
High Confidence ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Digital Pedagogy ◽  
Teachers Attitudes ◽  
The Impact

AbstractTo prepare schools for the demands of the twenty-first century, teachers have been challenged to expand their use of digital technologies in their teaching. This study is a part of OpenDigi, which aimed to create teachers’ communities for enhancing digital pedagogy skills and the use of digital assessment tools. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of digital pedagogy training on in-service teachers’ attitudes towards digital technologies. Self-report questionnaires were collected from 98 elementary and lower secondary school in-service teachers in southern Finland. A total of 22 in-service teachers completed both pre- and post-test. The results showed that the impact of the digital pedagogy training depended on teachers’ ICT confidence level. Teachers who had low confidence in ICT use showed an increased ICT confidence level after the programme, while teachers who already had high confidence in ICT use showed no significant changes in their confidence level. Moreover, the results indicated that the need for ICT support was lower after the training for the teachers in high confidence group, while there were no significant changes in the need for ICT support for the teachers in the low confidence group. These results suggested that the training could fulfil teachers’ needs for ICT support, particularly for the teachers in the high confidence group. The challenges teachers face in expanding the use of digital technologies in practice and their commitment to the digital culture are discussed.

Computers and Society

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald M. Baecker
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
War And Peace ◽  
Modern Life ◽  
Corporate Networks ◽  
Naked Eye ◽  
Widespread Availability ◽  
Computers And Society

The last century has seen enormous leaps in the development of digital technologies, and most aspects of modern life have changed significantly with their widespread availability and use. Technology at various scales - supercomputers, corporate networks, desktop and laptop computers, the internet, tablets, mobile phones, and processors that are hidden in everyday devices and are so small you can barely see them with the naked eye - all pervade our world in a major way. Computers and Society: Modern Perspectives is a wide-ranging and comprehensive textbook that critically assesses the global technical achievements in digital technologies and how are they are applied in media; education and learning; medicine and health; free speech, democracy, and government; and war and peace. Ronald M. Baecker reviews critical ethical issues raised by computers, such as digital inclusion, security, safety, privacy,automation, and work, and discusses social, political, and ethical controversies and choices now faced by society. Particular attention is paid to new and exciting developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and the issues that have arisen from our complex relationship with AI.

Development of distance education in Chinese higher education in perspectives of accessibility, quality and equity under COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Chen ◽  
Angela Yung Chi Hou ◽  
Lei Huang
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Instructional Strategy ◽  
National Level ◽  
The Other ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Chinese Higher Education ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Ict Literacy ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThis paper aimed to explore the development of distance education (DE) in Chinese higher education as well as the three significant themes: accessibility, quality and equity in Chinese DE and the performance of these three themes in Chinese DE.Design/methodology/approachDocument analysis was used as the major research method in this study to examine the development and challenges in terms of accessibility, quality and equity in Chinese DE. In this study, national-level official policy documents and reports from the Chinese government were collected and analyzed. Also, scientific articles from CNKI were analyzed to find out the evolution of the Frontier topics on Chinese DE in accessibility, quality and equity.FindingsThere are three major findings. First, the Chinese government has shown its positive attitude toward DE in higher education. Second, compared with the other two themes: quality and equity; the number of articles in the accessibility of DE was lower than the other two themes and the problems of accessing online courses were insufficiently caused by two reasons due to lack of basic ICT literacy and poor Internet infrastructure. Third, there was a gap between Chinese policies and research articles mainly because of the unbalanced development of accessibility in policy management and research articles.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough this paper has summarized the development of the DE in Chinese higher education, it was clear that accessibility, quality and equity were three critical issues in DE. However, there are still other essential factors that contribute to the development of DE that requires further investigation, such as learner satisfaction, different features of learning platforms and instructional strategy.Practical implicationsThe findings of this paper can be used to identify the attitude toward the DE of the Chinese government. Besides, the accessibility could be a research and practical focus for Chinese DE in the future.Originality/valueThis study showed some significant policies released by the Chinese government toward DE in higher education and revealed the achievements, trends and challenges in the accessibility, quality and equity of Chinese DE.

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