Presentation by Shared Intelligence about the findings of their research for ASCEL into children's use of digital technology and the implications for public libraries

1. Children, digital technology and libraries
Ben Lee, Shared Intelligence

2. Big technology trends (from our SCL research)
Trends relating to children and technology
The ASCEL focus groups in Summer 2014
• Under 5s
• 5s – 7s
• 7s – 11s

3. Trends from our SCL research

4. Speed and scale of change

5. Continued shift from paper to digital
Academic writing
School textbooks
Consumer fiction

6. The rise of images over text

7. The re-emergence of make it yourself

8. From “going online” to always on

9. Digital divide - 11m Britons still not online
Tinder Foundation
A Leading Digital Nation by 2020 (2014)

10. And as with many things, it costs more
to be poor when connecting up
digitally

13. For children

14. Three quarters of children have access
to a touchscreen device at home
National Literacy Trust
Parents’ perspectives: Children’s use of technology in the Early Years (2014)

15. The kids are all wired
OFCOM
Communications Market Report (2014)

16. Learning through games - “gamification”

17. Online teaching materials are commonplace

18. Re-boot of Computer Science in schools
1985 2015

19. Summer 2015
BBC giving a Micro Bit to every Year 7 child

20. Ability to create their
own…
NeverSeconds
Campaigns
Self-published books
Blogs
Films
Milton Keynes Junior Filmmakers

21. For poorer children e-books can
succeed where paper books fail
Research by Robert Chisnall and Caithy Martin, Manchester Academy with RM Books (2014)
National Literacy Trust - Parents’ perspectives: Children’s use of technology in the Early Years (2014)

22. But a barrier may be the limited
confidence of professionals
• Staff in early years settings with lower OFSTED
ratings are less likely to have access to
touchscreens; and those that do are less likely to
use them
• Staff in early years settings who use touchscreens
least are also those where staff report lower
confidence with those devices themselves
• Staff in early years settings using touchscreens
least also believe their children are less confident
National Literacy Trust 2014

23. And digital devices in themselves do
not guarantee impact
iPads for every pupil in LA
One Laptop Per Child

24. Although some are brilliant
Prof Sugata Mitra, Newcastle University
www.hole-in-the-wall.com

25. But despite fast thumbs, they are still
children
“…digital natives – with fast thumbs able to summon up the
knowledge of the world in an instant, build a million dollar
company from their bedroom, or topple a corrupt regime
with a tweet. Yet far from being at the forefront of the
digital revolution many young people remain on the lower
‘rungs’ of digital understanding.” iRights.uk

26. ASCEL focus groups
Took place in Summer 2014
• Under 5s (72 children, in 3 authorities)
• 5s – 7s (54 children, in 4 authorities)
• 7s – 11s (73 children, in 4 authorities)
ASCEL asked for help from: Essex, Hull, Gateshead,
Lancashire, Bexley/Bromley, Kingston, Staffordshire
Questions and process designed by Shared Intelligence,
focus groups conducted by ASCEL members

27. Digital technology for play, discovering the
world, and sometimes for creating and
making pictures, photos and music.
But digital technology does not reach into
every hour of the day and parents are
trying to keep it that way.
Under 5s

28. Under 5s

29. For them technology is everywhere and they
can use almost all of it. But just as in their
offline world - they do not yet understand
everything they come across, or the risks.
When we explained about research, one boy
replied simply
“why didn’t you just look all that up on the
internet?”
7-11s

30. 7-11s

31. 5-7s
In-betweeners.
Their interaction
with technology is
bound up in the
transition from the
world of early
childhood - to that
of school, structure,
new friendships,
and more
responsibility.

32. The lives of today’s children are not
dominated by digital information, but they
are immersed in it.
There are real risks that some children will
lose out, not through lack of ability but lack of
opportunity.
But those who are given opportunities,
guidance, and encouragement will achieve
things with digital knowledge which even
today seem impossible.
Why….?

33. …because
Cheaper
&
Faster
Broadband
More data

34. Cheaper, faster, smaller, more powerful

35. So….
We tried to come to some conclusions
but what do you think?
How does this research help you?
What could you do?

36. Thanks
Children, digital technology and libraries
Ben Lee, Shared Intelligence