Digital Capabilities
Digital capabilitiesÌýare critical to our students’ academic success and the career success of our graduates.
Their future work will require them to find, assess and create increasingly complex multimedia digital resources, necessitating the integration of technical competence and critical thinking skills.
The Digital Capabilities @ Adelaide project has developed a flexible to support the development of our students’ digital capabilities.
The project was jointly funded by theÌý×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog LibraryÌýand theÌýPro Vice Chancellor (Student Learning) with Beacon eLearning funding.
What are digital capabilities?
This project uses the concept of digital literacies developed by the UKÌý:
Those capabilities which fit an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society.JISC
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Isn't being digitally capable just knowing how to use technology?
Using technology proficiently is certainly part of being digital capable. However, on top of being able to use technology (ICT proficiency) a digitally capableÌýperson will also be capable in the other five areas of the digital literaciesÌýframework. These areas are:
- Information, Media & Data Literacy.Ìý
- Digital Creation, Problem Solving & Innovation.
- Collaboration, Communication &ÌýParticipation.
- Digital Learning & Development.
- Digital identity & Wellbeing.
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Why are they important?
Our students often have digital skills which they use for social reasons, but have not been exposed to ways to use them effectively in an academic environment. There is a gap which needs to be acknowledged and which the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog needs to address through better integration of digital capabilitiesÌýinto programs and courses.
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The six digital capabilities
The Adelaide Digital Capabilities Framework comprises a student profile and a staff profile. It has been adapted from work by theÌý.ÌýThe Framework is indicative, and can be contextualised for different uses and revised periodically. It is not dependent on a particular set of software programs. It is a flexible tool highlighting key areas of capability.
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For Staff: What does the Framework mean for you?
The staff profile of the framework offers a point of reference for academic and professional staff, who have roles as educators and in supporting learning and teaching, to guide their own professional learning and development.
It can be used:
- ÌýBy staff to review their professional development needs
- ÌýIn the design of Induction and Continuing Professional Development programs, and in the development of professional learning resources and activities
- To map digital expertise across different staff roles in learning, teaching, and learning and research support, identifying gaps and where digital expertise adds value.
Developing digitally capable graduates
- Developing capabilities which fit an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society
- Developing and sharing quality information, resources and guidance on building digital capabilities
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For Students: Digital capabilities at theÌýcore of your courses
DigitalÌýCapabilities @ AdelaideÌýwill guide the development of students' digital capabilities through ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog courses. The student profile can be used by program leaders and course coordinators to map digital capabilities against course outcomes and graduate attributes. This will take time but we are committed to ensuring that students will have the digital skills and capabilities that are needed in the workforce.
Reference group and student involvement
A Reference Group was run in March 2017 and was made up of a mix of staff and students from all areas of the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog.ÌýThe Reference Group helped guide the direction of the Framework in the early development stages.
The involvement of students and alumni is critical in understanding how we can develop strategies toÌýsupport the development of students’ digital skills
Comments and feedback
We will continue to offer opportunities for you to learn about digital capabilitiesÌýandÌýhave your say.
We are interested in finding out:
- what you know about digitalÌýcapabilities
- whatÌýdigital skills you already have
- what digital skills you think you need
- whatÌýdigital skills you think your teachers need
- how you will be affected by the Framework
- We will continue to offer opportunities for you to learn about digital capabilitiesÌýandÌýhave your say.
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LinkedIn Learning
The ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide is partnering with LinkedIn Learning to provide students and staff with free access to a wide range of current online learning resources to support in-demand professional and personal skills development.ÌýFind out more about getting started here.Ìý
Download our LinkedIn Learning Digital Framework to see recommended courses mapped to each competency.Ìý
Developing digital capabilities at university
Frequently asked questions
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What are some examples of these capabilities?
There are numerous examples of digital capabilities, here are just a couple from each of the six areas:
ICT proficiency
- learning to use software
- personalising IT to suit your needs
- transferring skills and knowledge of current technologies to new technologies
Digital creation, innovation and scholarship
- ensuring security of your research data
- creating podcasts or wikis
- being able to code (e.g. developing an app)
Communication, collaboration and participation
- respecting others when communicating online
- participating in digital teams
- developing digital networks
- behaving ethically in a digital environment
Digital learning and self-development
- using digital learning resources (e.g. Canvas)
- using EndNote or other reference management software
- making sure you can keep motivated to learn while in a digital environment
Information, data and media literacies
- evaluating online material
- understanding digital copyright
- knowing where to find information online
- interpret data, run reports and complete data analysis
Digital identity and wellbeing
- developing a positive digital identity
- staying safe online
- managing digital stress
- keeping a balance between real world and digital interactions
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How did the project align with the Strategy for Learning Teaching and Assessment (SLTA)?
The SLTA establishes the goal of piloting program-level structured embedding of digital literacies development in all faculties by Q3 2017 (SLTA 1.8). This project will lead the work associated with the achievement of that goal, and will also contribute strongly to the enhanced interaction between the Library and the Student Learning portfolio as envisaged by TheÌýÌýproject.
The Digital CapabilitiesÌýFramework will align with other strands within theÌýStrategy for Teaching, Learning and Assessment 2016-18 Implementation Plan. Specifically:
- Improved program-level coherence with integration of the UoA graduate attributes curriculum
- An integrated approach to students’ career-readiness development across all programs, connecting curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities
- A clearly defined ‘attributes curriculum’ with priority given to embedding of career-readiness, global citizenship, intercultural awareness, and digital literacyÌýdevelopment
The Digital CapabilitiesÌýFramework Project will also support the achievement of the Beacon Operational Plan goal to Review Graduate Attributes Statement to maintain currency by Quarter 3 in 2017, by gathering evidence to support the decision whether to include ‘Digital Capabilities’ as a Graduate Attribute.
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Other digital literacies frameworks
- LaTrobe ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog- Are currently in the final stages of developing a Digital Literacy Framework. For more information about the Framework and the process read theÌý.
- Deakin ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog - Has a useful website for digital literacy with short, informative videos.
- ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Queensland - Has recently released an for 2016-2020.
- JISC (UK)Ìý- A world leader in digital literacy framework development, thisÌý is a great place to start when trying to understand digital literacies.