Smart City Technology and Civic Engagement in Ontario, Canada

2022 ◽  
pp. 376-395
Author(s):  
Sarah Goodyear
Keyword(s):  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Smart Technologies ◽  
City Plan

As smart technologies become more integrated with daily life, vital digital literacy skills are necessary for citizens to engage with and benefit from their cities, local government, and economy. Libraries play an important role in mitigating the growing wealth gap in our communities, especially as it relates to opportunities provided by emerging technologies. With the call for smart city proposals in Toronto, Ontario, what role will the city's LAMs have in collaborating with these future developments? The Toronto Public Library (TPL), a trusted public institution, has a stake in implementing various frameworks and collaborating with government agencies in addressing public concerns around technologies that collect personal information for various purposes and ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind. Following an examination of the role libraries play in mitigating consequences of the digital divide, this chapter will discuss the various ways in which TPL and similar community libraries have been involved with digital literacy and inclusion. It will also explore how TPL has been identified by government agencies as a vehicle for civic engagement and oversight in the former Sidewalk Toronto smart city plan.

Conceptualizing the integration of digital humanities in instructional services

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Pun
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Digital Humanities ◽  
Visual Literacy ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Digital Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Skills ◽  
Instructional Services

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize how digital humanities (DH) projects can be integrated into instructional services programs in libraries. The paper draws on three digital projects from the New York Public Library (NYPL) and explores how librarians can creatively utilize these resources to teach new digital literacy skills such as data analysis and data management. For patrons, they can learn about the content of these crowd-sourcing projects as well. By integrating DH projects into library instruction, the possibilities and opportunities to expand and explore new research and teaching areas are timely and relevant. Design/methodology/approach – The approach of this paper is to explore NYPL’s three digital projects and underscore how they can be integrated into instructional services: “What’s On the Menu,” “Direct Me NYC” and “Map Warper” all offer strengths and limitations but they serve as paradigms to explore how digital resources can serve multipurpose use: they are databases, digital repositories and digital libraries but they can also serve as instructional service tools. Findings – The paper conceptualizes how three DH projects can serve as teaching opportunities for instructional services, particularly teaching digital literacy skills. By exploring the content of each digital project, the paper suggests that users can develop traditional information literacy skills but also digital literacy skills. In addition, as crowdsourcing projects, the Library also benefits from this engagement since users are adding transcriptions or rectified maps to the Library’s site. Patrons develop visual literacy skills as well. The paper addresses how librarians can meet the needs of the scholarly community through these new digital resources. While the paper only addresses the possibilities of these integrations, these ideas can be considered and implemented in any library. Practical implications – The paper addresses positive outcomes with these digital resources to be used for library instructional services. Based on these projects, the paper recommends that DH projects can be integrated into such instructions to introduce new content and digital skills if appropriate. Although, there are limitations with these digital resources, it is possible to maximize their usage if they are used in a different and creative way. It is possible for DH projects to be more than just digital projects but to act as a tool of digital literacy instruction. Librarians must play a creative role to address this gap. However, another limitation is that librarians themselves are “new” to these resources and may find it challenging to understand the importance of DH projects in scholarly research. Originality/value – This paper introduces DH projects produced in a public research library and explores how librarians can use these digital projects to teach patrons on how to analyze data, maps and other content to develop digital literacy skills. The paper conceptualizes the significant roles that these DH projects and librarians can play as critical mediators to introducing and fostering digital literacy in the twenty-first century. The paper can serve as an interest to academic and public libraries with large research collections and digital projects. By offering new innovative ideas of integrating DH into instructional services, the paper addresses how DH projects teaching tools can support specific digital skills such as visual literacy and data analysis.

scholarly journals Training Of Information Technology In West Java Sumedang-Regional Library As An Effort On Digital Literacy Education

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Neneng Komariah ◽  
Encang Saepudin
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Literacy Education ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
West Java

Background of the study: The Internet has become part of society's daily life. But the phenomenon shows that not all people are Able to use information technology and the Internet efficiently, and the information disseminated through the internet is not entirely quality information. Therefore, Internet users need digital literacy skills, that is the ability to use information technology efficiently and the ability to find, Evaluate, use, make information, and use it wisely, and lawfully. The problem is who should be held responsible to digital literacy education for the community. Public libraries can play a role in the digital literacy education for the community.Purpose: This study aims to find out how the management of ICT education in the Regional Public Library (PUSDA) of Sumedang Regency, West Java, as an effort for digital literacy education community.Method: The research method used is a qualitative method with descriptive analysis, and the data collection techniques with observation, interviews, focus group discussions, and literature study.Findings: The result shows the subject taught in ICT with the relevant training on participants' needs. The participants are students and jobless. Most of of participants did not have Reviews their own computer, they were very happy to take part in the ICT training in the library because it was free. Teachers are library staff and outside personnel assistance. Computer used are owned by the library and donations from industry. The way of teaching was easy to understand and the participants could practice using computers and search the internet. The PUSDA staff organized the training with enthusiasm.Conclusion: There are some aspects that are already owned by the public library which will support the implementation of digital literacy education effectively and efficiently. Among them is the library already has computer facilities, has a staff of professionals, and already has access to sources of digital information online

scholarly journals Penerapan Model Literasi Digital Berbasis Sekolah Untuk Membangun Konten Positif Pada Internet

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamilah Karaman ◽  
Ida Widaningrum ◽  
Mohammad Bhanu Setyawan ◽  
Sugianti Sugianti
Keyword(s):  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Internet Technology ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Literacy Workshop

Tidak bisa dipungkiri bahwa internet membawa dampak positf bagi kehidupan anak dan remaja karena memudahkan untuk mendapatkan informasi terbaru, informasi terkait tugas dan pelajaran sekolah, meningkatkan kreatifitas, memperat komunikasi antar teman dan lain-lain. Seperti dua sisi mata uang, teknologi internet juga memberi dampak negatif yang mempengaruhi martabat kedirian dan kehidupan generasi remaja sekarang ini. Munculnya beragam kasus cybercrime, adiksi terhadap pornografi dan games online, menjadi bukti nyata sangat rentannya pengaruh negatif perkembangan internet terhadap dunia anak. Kecakapan literasi digital, merupakan salah satu langkah preventif dan edukatif untuk menyadarkan dampak positif dan meminimalisir dampak negatif internet. Sekolah, bisa menjadi pengerak utama untuk mengkampanyekan dan memberikan kecakapan literasi digital kepada anak didiknya. Namun ada beberapa permasalahan untuk menerapkan literasi digital di sekolah. Pertama, belum adanya kurikulum kecakapan literasi digital dengan acuan standar. Kedua, hilangnya pelajaran Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi yang seharusnya bisa menjadi media penyuluhan literasi digital. Ketiga, masih minimnya kecakapan literasi digital yang dimilliki oleh para guru. Hal ini juga terjadi di Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) 2 Ponorogo, sehingga perlu diadakan pelatihan atau workshop literasi digital berbasis sekolah untuk menunjang keberhasilan budaya gerakan literasi sekolah. Berdasarkan evaluasi workshop literasi digital, peserta merespon dengan baik materi dan evaluasi kompetensi standard. Peserta mampu mengikuti dengan baik dan memahami semua materi informasi personal dan privasi, jejak digital dan kemanan Wi-Fi.Kata Kunci: cybercrime; literasi digital; madrasah.  Application of School Based Digital Literacy Model To Build Positive Content On The Internet ABSTRACT It is undeniable that the Internet has a positive impact on the lives of children and adolescents because it facilitates obtaining the latest information, information related to school tasks and increases creativity, strengthens communication between friends and others. Like the two sides of a coin, Internet technology also has a negative impact that affects the dignity of oneself and the lives of today's teenagers. The emergence of several cases of cybercrime, pornography addiction, and online games, is a real test of the very vulnerable negative influence of Internet development in the world of children. Digital literacy skills are one of the preventive and educational steps to achieve positive impacts and minimize the negative impacts of the Internet. Schools can be the main drivers for campaigning and providing digital literacy skills to their students. But there are some problems to implement digital literacy in schools. First, there is no curriculum for digital literacy skills with standard references. Secondly, the loss of Information and Communication Technology lessons that should have been a means for digital literacy advice. Third, the lack of digital literacy skills that teachers possess. This also happened in Madrasa Aliyah Negeri (MAN) 2 Ponorogo, so there must be a training or digital literacy workshop at the school to support the cultural success of the school literacy movement. Based on the evaluation of the digital literacy workshop, participants responded well to the material and the assessment of standard skills. Participants can follow well and understand all personal information and privacy material, fingerprints and Wi-Fi security..Keywords: cybercrime; digital literacy; madrasah. 

scholarly journals Internet users’ utopian/dystopian imaginaries of society in the digital age: Theorizing critical digital literacy and civic engagement

2021 ◽  
pp. 146144482110186
Author(s):  
Gianfranco Polizzi
Keyword(s):  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Media Literacy ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Digital Age ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Engagement ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Utopian Studies ◽  
Utopian Thinking ◽  
Literacy Research

This article proposes a theoretical framework for how critical digital literacy, conceptualized as incorporating Internet users’ utopian/dystopian imaginaries of society in the digital age, facilitates civic engagement. To do so, after reviewing media literacy research, it draws on utopian studies and political theory to frame utopian thinking as relying dialectically on utopianism and dystopianism. Conceptualizing critical digital literacy as incorporating utopianism/dystopianism prescribes that constructing and deploying an understanding of the Internet’s civic potentials and limitations is crucial to pursuing civic opportunities. The framework proposed, which has implications for media literacy research and practice, allows us to (1) disentangle users’ imaginaries of civic life from their imaginaries of the Internet, (2) resist the collapse of critical digital literacy into civic engagement that is understood as inherently progressive, and (3) problematize polarizing conclusions about users’ interpretations of the Internet as either crucial or detrimental to their online engagement.

scholarly journals An assessment of the interplay between literacy and digital Technology in Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahrokh Nikou ◽  
Milla Aavakare
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Intention To Use ◽  
University Staff ◽  
Willingness To Use ◽  
The Impact

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.

scholarly journals Towards a conceptual framework for protection of personal information from the perspective of activity theory

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiko Iyamu ◽  
Yandiswa Ngqame
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Activity Theory ◽  
South African ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Information Protection ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Community Based ◽  
African Government ◽  
Information Usage

Background: Personal information about individuals is stored by organisations including government agencies. The information is intended to be kept confidential and strictly used for its primary and legitimate purposes. However, that has not always been the case in many South African government agencies and departments. In recent years, personal information about individuals and groups has been illegally leaked for other motives, in which some were detrimental. Even though there exists a legislation, Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act, which prohibits such malpractices, illegally leaked information has however, not stopped or reduced. In addition to the adoption of the POPI Act, a more stringent approach is therefore needed in order to improve sanity in the use and management of personal information. Otherwise, the detriment that such malpractices cause too many citizens can only be on the increase.Objectives: The objectives of this study were in twofold: (1) to examine and understand the activities that happen with personal information leaks, which includes why and how information is leaked; and (2) to develop a conceptual framework, which includes identification of the factors that influence information leaks and breaches in an environment.Method: Qualitative research methods were followed in achieving the objectives of the study. Within the qualitative methods, documents including existing literature were gathered. The activity theory was employed as lens to guide the analysis.Result: From the analysis, four critical factors were found to be of influence in information leaks and breaches in organisations. The factors include: (1) information and its value, (2) the roles of society and its compliance to information protection, (3) government and its laws relating to information protection and (4) the need for standardisation of information usage and management within a community. Based on the factors, a conceptual framework was developed.Conclusion: This study can be used to guide implementation of information protection acts in any environment. It empirically contributes to societal awareness on how and why personal information is leaked and breached. Also, it will benefit academic domain, particularly in the use of activity theory.

scholarly journals The role of libraries in teaching doctoral students to become information-literate researchers

2019 ◽  
Vol 120 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 158-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Ince ◽  
Christopher Hoadley ◽  
Paul A. Kirschner
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Literacy Practices ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Skill Sets ◽  
Types Of Information

PurposeThis paper aims to review current literature pertaining to information literacy and digital literacy skills and practices within the research workflow for doctoral students and makes recommendations for how libraries (and others) can foster skill-sets for graduate student research workflows for the twenty-first century scholarly researcher.Design/methodology/approachA review of existing information literacy practices for doctoral students was conducted, and four key areas of knowledge were identified and discussed.FindingsThe findings validate the need for graduate students to have training in information literacy, information management, knowledge management and scholarly communication. It recommends empirical studies to be conducted to inform future practices for doctoral students.Practical implicationsThis paper offers four areas of training to be considered by librarians and faculty advisers to better prepare scholars for their future.Originality/valueThis paper presents a distinctive synthesis of the types of information literacy and digital literacy skills needed by graduate students.

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