The Digital Literacy Project (DLP) sought to integrate the development of digital literacy skills within undergraduate and postgraduate curricula across multiple disciplines at UQ and identify discipline and/or profession-specific digital literacy needs and requirements.

Project duration: December 2018 – October 2020

This project is now complete.

Background

Digital technologies are intrinsic to the contemporary world of work. Industries and workplaces demand graduates who are both skilled and critically reflective users of digital technologies.

In 2018, the UQ Library released a range of modules to support academics and students in gearing up for the digital workplace. To make the modules readily accessible, no individual module requires more than 30 minutes to complete. The Digital Literacy Project, funded by a UQ 2018 Teaching Innovation Grant, aimed to promote engagement with these modules and target future modules' development.

Actions

The project was implemented in three phases:

  1. invitation to academics from multiple disciplines to complete one or more of the digital literacy modules and assess their potential application for the academic’s courses and programs; 
  2. working with academics to integrate digital literacy module/s in their courses and programs; 
  3. review the uptake of UQ Library’s Digital Essential modules and identify areas for further development.

    Academics participated in this project in Semester 2, 2019 and Semester 1, 2020 by: 

    1. engaging with one or more of the digital literacy modules and completing a pre-survey questionnaire;
    2. integrating a digital literacy module in your course, with support from the project team; and
    3. providing feedback on the digital literacy modules in a 30-minute interview.

    To gain further insights into the staff’s perception of digital literacy and engagement with UQ Library’s Digital Essentials modules, the DLP team extended the survey for academics and created another survey for learning designers.

    Benefits

    Participation in the project offered staff an opportunity to:

    • gain support in integrating  digital literacy modules in their courses; 
    • be part of a community of practice for developing digital literacy at UQ; and
    • co-publish in scholarship of teaching and learning literature about digital literacy.

    • Associate Professor Peter Lewis (Project Lead), School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work
    • Associate Professor Nic Carah, School of Communication and Arts
    • Dr Adriana Diaz, School of Languages and Cultures
    • Professor Gwen Lawrie, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
    • Mrs Vilma Simbag (Project Manager), School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work
    • Dr Christine Slade, ITaLI
    • Ms Kathleen Smeaton, Central Library
    • Ms Jessica Tsai (Advisory member to the project team), Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
    • Associate Professor Jack Wang, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
    • Ms Noela Yates, Central Library
     
      Module name Module content
    1 Accessibility and study hacks Introduces the concepts of accessibility and universal design; shows how to create accessible content; gives examples of study hacks which can help to make your digital life easier.
    2 Artificial intelligence Discusses what AI is and the different types of AI; explores key concepts such as machine learning, deep learning and neural networks; outlines various ethical implications and misconceptions surrounding AI; outlines what AI-related research is occurring at UQ and how students can study AI.
    3 Choosing the right tool Helps to find a tool for a specific task; allows to compare similar tools to find the best match.
    4 Communicate & collaborate online Explores the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of online; examines tools for communicating and collaborating online.
    5 Digital wellbeing and privacy (new module) Discusses the effects of digital technology, managing online issues and protecting your privacy.
    6 Document your research data (new module) Helps to conduct transparent and reproducible quantitative research for your project.
    7 Employability Explores how digital footprint can affect professional image; helps to use online networking platforms to develop professional profile; explore platforms to enhance your digital skills.
    8 eProfessionalism (new module) Explores online professional identity, digital citizenship, ethics, confidentiality use of images.
    9 Finding and using media Shows how to source media (including images, video, and audio) for your assignments; helps students to understand copyright and licencing obligations so that they can ethically reuse media.
    10 Information essentials Introduces students to different kinds of information and where to find them; gives advice on search strategies; helps students to evaluate information.
    11 Internet essentials Helps to understand what the internet is and how it is regulated; explains the basics of online privacy and cyber security.
    12 Password management Provides information and guidance on account security; explores the use and benefits of password managers; outlines common security issues.
    13 Social media Explores the digital footprint students leave online; explore different social media platforms and their use.
    14 Types of assignment Explores different assignment types; examines resources and tools to help students produce their assignments.
    15 UQ systems Explores the UQ online systems and helps to understand the roles of UQ systems in students’ learning journey
    16 Working with data Explains what data is; examines how data is used; explores ways to analyse data.
    17 Working with files Provides guidance and information on managing data and how this can impact/support students’ studies; explores the importance of metadata in the digital world; and examines tools to improve productivity.
    18 Write, cite and submit Covers planning assignment; examines what plagiarism is; provides guidance on referencing assignment; explains how assignments should be submitted.
    19 Writing for the web Explains how to write for online audiences; explores different ways to produce online content.

    Contact

    Vilma Simbag, Project Manager