This document summarizes the results of a study examining the digital literacy of teacher candidates at Brandon University. A pilot study in 2008-2009 assessed candidates' competency levels across various digital skills. The current study surveyed over 200 candidates in 2009 to gather demographic data and self-reported competency levels. The results showed that while candidates were generally competent with basic skills like email and word processing, they lacked skills in areas like web development, video/audio editing, and online collaboration. Competency levels varied more by age, gender and other demographic factors than the stereotype of all young people being "digital natives." The study questions assumptions about candidates' digital literacy and calls for more nuanced evaluations of individuals' specific skills.

1. MADLaT/AMFAD 2010 International Conference
Are Millennials Digital
Illiterates?
Busting the myth about the current cohort of
post-secondary students.
Glenn Cockerline Mike Nantais
CockerlineG@BrandonU.ca NantaisM@BrandonU.ca
Brandon
University,
Faculty
of
Educa6on

2. The Background
pilot study

3. 3
=
expert
2
=
accomplished
1
=
developing
0
=
beginning
Pilot
2.44 - operating a computer study
2.23 - word processing
resul
2.14 - communicating with e-mail
2.13 - managing files
1.96 - creating digital images
ts
1.96 - finding information
1.70 - analyzing data 1.41 - creating graphics
1.64 - evaluation information 1.27 - creating video
1.51 - creating multimedia 1.21 - collecting data
electronically
0.81 - concept mapping
0.77 - creating web pages
0.67 - modeling with ICT
0.60 - collaborating online
Results from pilot study conducted in 2008/09 (blogs/wikis)

4. Characteristics of Digital Natives vs. Our Teacher Candidates
Our Current
Study

5. Characteristics of Digital Natives vs. Our Teacher Candidates
Demographics
Who are our students?
Age
Distribu1on
of
Students
25
20
15
Frequency
Frequency
10
5
0
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
More
Age

6. Demographics
Age
Range: 20 – 47 years
Mean: 24.9 years
Gender
70% Female
Marital Status
60% Single
Academic Background
50 - B.A.
14 - B.Sc.
8 - B.G.S.
8 - B.P.E.S.
5 - B.Mus. (3 Concurrent)
2 - Other

7. Demographics
Our Teacher Candidates
2008
2009
• 96%
own
a
computer
• 100%
own
a
computer
• 94%
own
a
cell
phone
• 97%
own
a
cell
phone
• 76%
own
an
‘iPod’
• 83%
own
an
‘iPod’
• 88%
have
downloaded
music
• 83%
have
downloaded
music
• 48%
regularly
download
music
• 67%
regularly
download
music
• 77%
use
text
messaging
• 86%
use
text
messaging
•
76%
use
social
networking
sites
• 86%
use
social
networking
sites

8. Based on a 5-point-scale ranging from
Expert (4) to No Experience (0)
Greatest Competence (>3.0) Mean Score
Using eMail 3.59
Word Processing 1 3.22
Navigating the Web 3.13
Finding Information 3.13
Using Instant Messaging 3.11
Using Digital Camera 3.02
The Study: Competencies

9. Based on a 5-point-scale ranging from
Expert (4) to No Experience (0)
Minimal/No Competence (<0.99) Mean Score
Music Editing 0.91
Developing a Web Page 0.76
Blogging 0.70
Publishing Video Files 0.67
SmartBoard (IWB) 0.65
Publishing an Audio file 0.64
Idea Processors 0.52
Developing a Wiki 0.52
Creating Animation 0.51
Creating PodCasts 0.34
The Study: Competencies

10. Cartoon

11. g ing
Dig r
ep e
De

12. The Study: Issues of Age
Greatest
Competencies
By
Genera1on
Gen
X Gen
Y
3.31 Using
eMail 3.63 Using
eMail
3.08 Naviga6ng
the
Web 3.32 Word
Processing
1
Using
Instant
3.00 Messaging 3.23 Using
Instant
Messaging
3.15 Finding
Informa6on
3.14 Naviga6ng
the
Web
3.08 Using
Digital
Camera

13. The Study: Issues of Age
Least
Competencies
By
Genera1on
Gen
X Gen
Y
0.92 Se[ng
up
Audio
Conference 0.96 Edi6ng
Music
0.77 Edi6ng
Audio 0.87 Se[ng
up
video
conferencing
0.77 Edi6ng
Video 0.79 Developing
a
Web
Page
0.62 Edi6ng
Music 0.67 SmartBoard
0.62 Publishing
Video
Files 0.66 Publishing
Video
Files
0.54 SmartBoard 0.64 Blogging
0.54 Publishing
an
Audio
file 0.64 Publishing
an
Audio
file
0.54 Developing
a
Wiki 0.56 Idea
Processors
0.5 Developing
a
Web
Page 0.54 Crea6ng
Anima6on
0.46 Crea6ng
PodCasts 0.51 Developing
a
Wiki
0.38 Crea6ng
Anima6on 0.32 Crea6ng
PodCasts
0.31 Idea
Processors

14. The Study: Issues of Age

15. The Study: Issues of Gender
Greatest
Competencies
Males
Females
3.44
Using
eMail
3.65
Using
eMail
3.35
Naviga6ng
the
Web
3.25
Word
Processing
1
3.32
Using
Instant
Messaging
3.11
Finding
Informa6on
3.15
Word
Processing
1
3.05
Using
Digital
Camera
3.15
Finding
Informa6on
3.03
Naviga6ng
the
Web
3.04
Social
Networking
Sites
3.02
Using
Instant
Messaging
3.04
Downloading
Pictures

16. The Study: Issues of Gender
Least
Competencies
Males
Females
0.92
Crea6ng
Anima6on
0.87
Edi6ng
Audio
Files
0.92
Idea
Processors
0.80
Edi6ng
Video
Files
0.81
Crea6ng
PodCasts
0.68
Music
Edi6ng
0.57
Developing
a
Web
Page
0.56
Blogging
0.48
SmartBoard
0.41
Publishing
Video
Files
0.39
Publishing
an
Audio
file
0.35
Idea
Processors
0.33
Crea6ng
Anima6on
0.30
Developing
a
Wiki
0.15
Crea6ng
PodCasts

17. The Study: Issues of Gender
Stats: (females + social networking)

18. “As I reflect on my own digital media skills
development, I believe it’s more important for
institutions and organizations to pay more
attention to a person’s specific skills and
literacies rather than age or generation. I also
am convinced that a person’s home
environment, cultural experiences, and
vocational success - more than any single
demographic factor - will likely form their
interests and skills in the digital world.”
K. Ugalde (blog post at:
http://www.dmlcentral.net/blog/kristine-ugalde/digital-native-reflects-concept)

19. ati ons?
Implic
Comments
Questions ?

20. nk you!
Tha
Glenn Cockerline Mike Nantais
CockerlineG@BrandonU.ca NantaisM@BrandonU.ca
Brandon
University,
Faculty
of
Educa6on
Article on Pilot Study: Are all our Teacher Candidates Equally Digital Natives?
Available at: http://www.mern.ca/reports/Journal-V3.pdf