1. A Digital Literacy Lens for the
SCONUL 7 Pillars Model
Helen Howard
SCONUL Working Group on
Information Literacy

2. Context
Your
Creation
feedback
SCONUL
Digital
Literacy Lens
Future Content
Feedback

3. “Digital literacy defines those capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and working in a digital society”
ICT / Commun-
Information Media Digital Learning
computer icate &
literacy literacy scholarship skills
literacy collaborate
(JISC Developing Digital Literacies Briefing Paper)
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/funding/2011/04/Briefingpaper.pdf

4. Futurelab:
digital literacy
across the
curriculum
http://www2.futurelab.org.uk/resources/documents/handbooks/digital_literacy.pdf

5. SCONUL and Digital Literacy
Sconul’s working group on IL:
•Promotes IL within HE sector
•Develops and refines 7 pillars model
•Supports info professionals to
deliver innovative IL
•Provides a focus for IL within Sconul
•Manages any IL-related projects

7. Lenses: Same Pillars, Different Views
• Research
• Open Content
• Digital Literacy

8. Digital Literacy Lens:
• To explain and scope DL, and encourage debate
• To assess skills of profession
• To assist development of DL across HE
community, including student skills
Developed by:
• Looking at the digital environment, tools and
technologies in HE
• Considering skills and behaviours needed
• Looking at DL work elsewhere
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/groups/information_literacy/seven_pillars.html

9. IDENTIFY Understands: Is able to:
Concept of DL in Recognise skills
context needed
Structure of Assess digital
digital content content and tools
Lifecycle of Match digital
digital info solution to task

10. SCOPE Understands: Is able to:
Copyright, IPR Identify search
issues tools
Digital publication Assess digital
formats formats
Accessibility Evaluate new
issues tools

11. PLAN Understands: Is able to:
Differences Assess forms
between search
tools of digital media
Impact of sharing Exploit online
content communication
Where to locate Assign meta-
& publish content data tags

12. GATHER Understands: Is able to:
Range of digital Use range of
content / media digital tools
Collaborative Download digital
tools info
Risks of virtual Engage in online
world collaboration

13. EVALUATE Understands: Is able to:
Range of Assess suitability
technologies of content
Quality of digital Read online info
information critically
Critical user of Discoverability of
digital tools own material

14. MANAGE Understands: Is able to:
Ethical issues re Organise digital
info handling content
Plagiarism / Cite & reference
referencing correctly
Need to keep Personalise digital
systematic record environment

15. PRESENT Understands: Is able to:
Online security / Communicate
privacy issues effectively
New tools for Develop online
communication profile
Need to consider Select publication
digital self outlets

16. • Think about the lens in the context of your own
skills
• Pick a statement, section or pillar where
– You feel confident about your skills
– You think you could develop more
• Write on post-its and share with your table

17. Consultation, comments, feedback
• Lens was produced in November and updated in January
following feedback from various institutions and DL experts
• Final set of comments to be incorporated shortly to form final
version – send us your thoughts!
• Included in a survey of SCONUL Library Directors

18. Survey of Library Directors
• Does the DL lens
describe the range of
capabilities staff are
expected to demonstrate? 0.0%
– Yes 10.4%
– Partially
– No Yes
Partially
Not applicable
89.6%

19. SCONUL DL project
• JISC-funding for a number of Professional Associations (incl.
SEDA, ALT, ALDinHE, AUA, HEDG, Vitae)
– to engage their members in DL agenda
– to help disseminate findings of main JISC Developing Digital
Literacies projects http://www.jisc.ac.uk/developingdigitalliteracies
• SCONUL project aims to:
– Engage institutions, particularly relating DL to IL
– Develop skills and behaviours to maximise benefits of working in
digital environment
– Look at Sconul’s own DL and digital presence
http://jiscdesignstudio.pbworks.com/w/page/48784891/SCONUL%20DL

20. What are the DL skills of staff working in HE Libraries?
• All professional associations did a survey of their members
(staff developers, learning developers, academic
administrators…)
• SCONUL survey asked Library Directors to assess their
staff
• To review capabilities of information professionals working
in technology rich environments and assess how roles
could be more effective

21. 6 digital capabilities: which do you have?
ICT / Computer Information
Media Literacy
Literacy Literacy
Communication Digital
Learning Skills
& Collaboration Scholarship

22. Areas of staff expertise? (student support / academic liaison
roles)
1. Information Literacy
2. ICT / Computer Literacy
3. Communication & Collaboration
4. Learning Skills
5. Media Literacy
6. Digital Scholarship

23. Essential for staff to develop expertise in this area?
Information Literacy – 92%
ICT / Computer Literacy – 90%
Communication & Collaboration – 81%
Digital Scholarship – 77%
Learning Skills – 71%
Media Literacy – 69%

24. Library Services support of DL
• How is your service
contributing to strategic 30
development of your 25
institution’s digital literacy? 20
– Formally 15
– Locally 10
– Informally
5
0
– No involvement

25. Library Services support of DL
• Is your service taking a lead in developing your institution’s
digital literacy?
4.2%
8.3%
18.8% Yes
Yes - in
partnership
68.8% No
Other

26. Survey results from all Professional Associations
• Widespread confidence in use of technologies
• Less confidence in capacity to “keep up”
• Blurred boundaries of personal / professional life
• Anxiety / excitement over loss of f2f learning
• Adoption of technology takes place informally
• Main barriers are lack of time and opportunity
• Growing awareness of digital inequalities

27. SCONUL DL Project Future Plans
Contribute to CILIP’s body of professional
knowledge
Interpret and disseminate findings of main
projects, esp in relation to IL
Provide professional development opportunities
e.g. Webinars / opportunities to experiment
• What would help you?

28. SCONUL DL Lens Future Uses
Tool to explain and scope DL, beyond a
definition
Can be developed, interpreted and
applied
A tool to underpin development of
student skills and our own?

29. Questions, Comments, Thoughts...