University Teachers' Use of Digital Technologies

Author(s):  
Daariimaa Marav ◽  
Michelle Espinoza

This chapter is set in the context of two developing countries, Mongolia and Chile, where digital technology is seen as a powerful icon of the knowledge economy. The predominant and common discourses surrounding the uses of digital technologies in education in these developing countries usually assume rather celebratory stances of the roles digital technologies may perform in education in the digital age. Thus, the research reported here explores the realities, opportunities, and challenges that academic staff face when using digital technologies through the perspectives offered by the field of digital literacy studies. The findings illustrate the close and complex relationships between sociocultural contexts, beliefs, values, and digital literacy practices. The study suggests that more attention needs to be paid to the wider contexts affecting the digital practices around teaching and learning rather than to technologies per se.

Author(s):  
Daariimaa Marav ◽  
Michelle Espinoza

This chapter is set in the context of two developing countries, Mongolia and Chile, where digital technology is seen as a powerful icon of the knowledge economy. The predominant and common discourses surrounding the uses of digital technologies in education in these developing countries usually assume rather celebratory stances of the roles digital technologies may perform in education in the digital age. Thus, the research reported here explores the realities, opportunities, and challenges that academic staff face when using digital technologies through the perspectives offered by the field of digital literacy studies. The findings illustrate the close and complex relationships between sociocultural contexts, beliefs, values, and digital literacy practices. The study suggests that more attention needs to be paid to the wider contexts affecting the digital practices around teaching and learning rather than to technologies per se.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-107
Author(s):  
Mariana Vidotti de Rezende

RESUMO: Nos últimos anos, tem-se discutido muito, no campo da educação e também no campo da linguagem, a presença das tecnologias digitais nas práticas escolares. O que se tem visto, muitas vezes, éum uso de tecnologias que se limita a transferir práticas letradas tradicionais para práticas mediadas por novos recursos tecnológicos. Há uma inserção “forçada” de tecnologias que desconsidera seus maiores potenciais, suas dinâmicas interativas e estratégias sociocognitivas. Entende-se, entretanto, que a percepção a respeito do uso de tecnologias nas práticas pedagógicas perpassa, principalmente, o âmbito de ensino-aprendizagem de Língua Portuguesa e a concepção de letramento digital.A importância de discutir o conceito de letramento digital justifica-se pelo fato de que as diferentes interpretações que são dadas a ele interferem diretamente na percepção do uso de tecnologias nas práticas escolares. Analisa-se, então, em que medida as concepções de letramento e de letramento digital interferem na percepção que se tem de ensino de Língua Portuguesa e de que maneira contribuem para pensar a educação na atualidade.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: ensino-aprendizagem; letramento digital; língua portuguesa. ABSTRACT: In recent years, the presence of digital technologies in school practices has been very discussed in education and also in the language studies. What it has been seen is the fact that technology's uses are limited to transfering traditional literacy practices to practices mediated by new technological resources. There is a "hard" technologies insert that disregards its greatest potential, its interactive dynamics and socio-cognitive strategies. We understand, however, that the technology uses perception in school practices pervades, especially, the teaching and learning of Portuguese language context and the concept of digital literacy. The importance of discussing the concept of digital literacy is justified by the fact that the different interpretations that are given to it directly interfer in the perception of the use of technology in school practices. We will look, then, to what extent the literacy and digital literacy concepts interfere with the perception people have of the Portuguese language teaching and how they contribute to reflections on education today.KEYWORDS: teaching and learning; digital literacy; Portuguese language.


2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-318
Author(s):  
Daariimaa Marav

ABSTRACT Over the last few decades, Mongolia has experienced social, economic, technological and political changes. Those changes have contributed to the growing cultural status of English mediated in particular through the digital literacy practices of young Mongolians. However, much of the digital and new media research takes place in predominantly Anglo-American contexts (RINSLOO & ROWSELL, 2012) and not much is known about what shapes Mongolian university students' use of digital technologies. The research reported on here aims to fill this gap. Drawing on perspectives offered by the field of Literacy Studies, which analyses literacy practices within the social and cultural contexts in which they occur, and employing a mixed methods approach, the research examines how Mongolian university students majoring in English used digital technologies, especially the internet, in their everyday lives. Data were generated through a survey of 98 students and through observations of and interviews with six case study participants who came from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The findings indicate that most students' digital literacy practices were directed towards improving their English. They used digital technologies strategically by negotiating the issues of cost and time, and exercised agency in personalising the technologies to support their English learning and eventually to improve their social positions. However, the findings also suggest that the participants' engagement with digital technologies was shaped by contextual and structural factors which included family background, personal resources such as English proficiency, digital literacies and aspirations. The research considers how the findings may inform improvements to educational practices around the teaching and learning of English and digital literacies in Mongolian universities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Domingo-Coscollola ◽  
Alejandra Bosco-Paniagua ◽  
Sara Carrasco-Segovia ◽  
Joan-Anton Sánchez-Valero

Este artículo da cuenta del proyecto “Propuesta interuniversitaria de formación inicial de maestros en tecnologías digitales”. Para elaborarla, nos planteamos conocer la percepción de estudiantes y de docentes sobre qué necesidades abordar en relación con las tecnologías digitales y la competencia digital metodológica, y qué acciones institucionales son preferentes para desarrollar la competencia digital docente (CDD). En este estudio, utilizamos un diseño de investigación de métodos mixtos. Las técnicas e instrumentos usados han sido el análisis de la documentación disponible, grupos de discusión y cuestionarios. La propuesta va dirigida a las nueve universidades catalanas que imparten la formación de futuros docentes en los grados de Maestro de Educación Infantil y Primaria. Las principales conclusiones apuntan hacia la necesidad de vincular la universidad con la sociedad, así como de favorecer un desarrollo profesional del profesorado universitario y la alfabetización digital de sus estudiantes fomentando el aprendizaje colaborativo y la autoría. También, se destaca la importancia de priorizar la comunicación y la colaboración durante el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje usando recursos digitales útiles que lo faciliten. A su vez, se resalta la ética y la ciudadanía digital como una dimensión emergente a considerar en la práctica educativa. Finalmente, se apuntan tres acciones institucionales sobre CDD para contemplar en los planes de estudio universitarios. This article provides an account of the project "An inter-university proposal for the initial training of teachers in digital technologies". In order to prepare it, we consider the perception of students and teachers on what needs to be addressed with regard to digital technologies and methodological digital competence, and what institutional actions are preferential for the development of teachers’ digital competence (TDC). In this study, we used a mixed-method research design. The techniques and instruments used have been the analysis of available documentation, focus groups and surveys. The proposal is targeted at the nine Catalan Universities that provide training for future teachers in Pre-school and Primary Education Degrees. The main findings point to the need to link the university to the society, as well as to promote a professional development of university teachers and the digital literacy of their students by fostering collaborative learning and authorship.  Likewise, it highlights the importance of prioritizing communication and collaboration during the teaching and learning process using useful digital resources that facilitate it. At the same time, ethics and digital citizenship is highlighted as an emerging dimension to be considered in educational practice. Finally, three institutional actions about TDC are pointed out to consider in university curricula.


Author(s):  
Shahrokh Nikou ◽  
Milla Aavakare

AbstractDigital technologies fundamentally transform teaching and learning in higher education environments, with the pace of technological change exacerbating the challenge. Due to the current pandemic situation, higher education environments are all now forced to move away from traditional teaching and learning structures that are simply no longer adaptable to the challenges of rapidly changing educational environments. This research develops a conceptual model and employs Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using Partial least Squares (PLS) to examine the impact of information and digital literacy on 249 Finnish university staff and students’ intention to use digital technologies. The findings show the complex interrelationship between literacy skills and digital technologies among university staff and students. The results illustrate that information literacy has a direct and significant impact on intention to use; while, unlike our expectation, digital literacy does not have a direct impact on the intention to use. However, its effect is mediated through performance expectancy and effort expectancy. The authors suggest that to understand the changes that are taking place in higher education environment, more attention needs to be paid to redefining policies and strategies in order to enhance individuals’ willingness to use digital technologies within higher education environments.


Author(s):  
Holger Pötzsch

The present contribution conducts an intervention in the study and practice of digital and media literacy. After reviewing key tenets of recent debates, I advance a specific understanding of the concept – critical digital literacy – that, as I argue, comprehensively addresses issues of knowledge, competencies, and skills in relation to digital technologies. In particular, I posit that critical thinking about educational and other values of ‘the digital’ needs to take structural aspects of the technology into account that are often eschewed in instrumental or commercially-driven approaches. To prepare pupils for their future lives requires a widest possible contextualisation of technology, including issues of exploitation, commodification, and degradation in digital capitalism. Finally, I make concrete suggestions for constructive uses of technology in teaching and learning.


Author(s):  
Edwin Obwoge Makworo ◽  
George Morara Nyakoe ◽  
Teresa Kwamboka Abuya

Digital technologies have been associated with improved and enriched learning experiences which include more student-centered learning. These technologies have made teaching and learning experiences more interesting. In view of the crucial role of digital technologies in enhancing learning, this study sought to assess teacher attitudes towards the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) in Kisii County based on gender differences. Does the gender of the teachers involved in the Digital Literacy Programme in Kisii County affect their readiness to uptake and implement the program? A survey research design was applied in the study. The population of the study constituted of 1,420 standard one and two teachers selected from randomly sampled schools of the county. The sample size was determined using the Fisher formula and the sample consisted of 302 standard one and two teachers. Purposive sampling was used to select the specific teachers. Simple random sampling was used to select the specific schools to include in the study and proportionate sampling was used to determine the number of respondents from each school. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. To ascertain the reliability of the research instruments, a pilot test was carried out and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.76 was realized. Data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics in SPSS. The study established that difference in gender has no effect on the teachers’ attitude to the Digital Literacy Programme.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 106-129
Author(s):  
Laura Teichert ◽  
Jim Anderson ◽  
Ann Anderson ◽  
Jan Hare ◽  
Marianne McTavish

This paper reports on an analysis of 60 print and online articles collected in a metropolitan area in Canada that describe children’s digital engagement through a focus on ‘early literacy’ or ‘digital literacy’. Findings reveal mixed messages about children’s use of digital technology that create competing frames for adults supporting (or not) young children’s digital literacy practices. Digital technology was often characterized as something to limit/control, except in school, where digital literacy was characterized as holding a proper place when controlled by educators. Consistent across media messaging was the promotion of traditional, print-based texts as an essential early literacy practice.


Author(s):  
John M. Traxler

In the countries of the global South, the challenges of fixed infrastructure and environment, the apparent universality of mobile hardware, software and network technologies and the rhetoric of the global knowledge economy have slowed or impoverished the development of appropriate theoretical discourses to underpin learning with mobiles. This paper addresses one specific and fundamental component of such discourses, namely the role of language and literacy as they interact with mobile technology. The paper makes three points, that mobile technology is culturally and linguistically specific, not universal or culturally-neutral; that mobile technology does not merely store and transmit language(s) and literacy within communities, it disturbs and transforms them, and that the digital literacy agenda that might underpin learning with mobiles has not yet been developed in relation to mobile technology or in relation to the global South. These are the foundations of understanding learning with mobiles in the global South.


Author(s):  
Kijpokin Kasemsap

This chapter reveals the overview of digital technologies; the overview of digital storytelling in education; and the overview of digital literacy in education. Digital storytelling and digital literacy are very important in modern education. Digital storytelling is used to improve student's learning through multimedia in the modern classrooms. Digital storytelling is the expressive medium that can explain even the most intricate topics in depth, integrating it with the rest of the curriculum. Digital literacy is the ability to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills. Digital literacy leads to the great increases in information that can be conveniently accessed. The chapter argues that developing digital storytelling and digital literacy skills has the potential to improve both teaching and learning performance in modern education.


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