Digital Literacy & Libraries
Insights from a Tutor-Facilitated Learning Model
Kimberly Pendell, Social Sciences Librarian, Portland State University
Elizabeth Withers, PhD Candidate in Sociology, Portland State University
Introduction
Outline
Computer and Internet Use by
Household Income, 2010 [1]
Digital Divide
Digital Literacy and Inclusion
Civic Engagement
Health Information
Education
Social Connection
Job Seeking & Application
Research Background
Learner Web
Learner Web
BTOP
IMLS
Learner Web
BTOP & PSU
Learner Web
BTOP
IMLS
BTOP & PSU
Learner Web & BTOP
IMLS Research
Learner Web
BTOP
IMLS
IMLS Research: Digital Literacy Acquisition
The Learning Model
Research Design
IMLS Research Design
Central Texas Fieldwork
Preliminary Insights
Insights: Program Implementation
Insights: Learners
“…When she first came and did Internet research for example, she wanted directed lessons. She would be willing to look up an address and find a driving route, but she did not want to look up medical symptoms or job descriptions. She was very very wary, she thought the Internet was a dangerous place and now that she's relaxed, now she’s willing to go out more on her own.”
“So, a lot of times I have someone come in panicky because they went to a job interview and they were asked about Excel and they don’t—you know. So they need computer skills for the job now and especially if it’s someone in their 40s or 50s who didn't get computers at school, then that’s a special kind of learner because it’s someone who wants advanced skills but needs basic skills…”
“We have had a mom who was absolutely determined—well her husband's boss had told her that her boy should go to A&M… she came to me and we did a bunch of the LearnerWeb…Internet research kinds of things. And that boy did end up going to A&M, but she looked at a ton of other college sites…I loved the point when she realized that when she saw the little arrow that there was a video she could click. It just was like—it just opened the world for her and then it became a choice as to where that boy applied to school.”
Insights: Tutors
“I used to try and sit with people too much. I used to be so available that one--students were trying to please me and opposed to themselves and also they wouldn’t roam around as much on their own, you know, they wanted more direction if I was right there by them.”
“He came fairly consistently to the workforce center for a couple of months or so and came in one morning and he said ‘I'm not here to take the class I just want to let you know that I can't come any more I have a job, but I wanted to say thank you for helping me with this’ and that just was really crazy to me that someone took the time to come at 8 o’clock in the morning just to say, ‘I can’t come any more, but thank you’ which I was just like ‘Wow, that totally made my day’.”
“I think it's very good to reveal yourself learning…Like today when …I had so much trouble figuring out—where is that [browser] plug-in? In the past I would have put an out of order sign on that computer and just dealt with it later…. But now I think it’s useful for the tutorees to see me banging around.”
Implications
Practical Implications
What’s Next?
What Next?
Thank You!
Questions?
References