Welcome
to the Digital Literacy online site for my PhD. My name is Paulinus Nwosu and I
am currently doing my research on ‘digital literacy and employability in
Nigeria’ at Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom. I will be posting well
informed articles relating to digital literacy and its development especially
as it relates to Nigeria.
Digital Literacy in Nigeria: an overview
The
term ‘digital literacy’ may not be common in Nigeria as there are very few
studies that use the term. We are rather used to the term ‘computer skills’ or ‘ICT
skills’ which is just an element of digital literacy. Literacy in the context
of my research goes beyond mere computer/ICT skills to include knowledge and
attitude. It involves the ability to reflect, criticize and create digital content
using variety of digital media and platforms responsibly and safely for personal objectives
and or for the society development.
Time is really auspicious to critically look
at how digital literacy is developed in Nigerian students as things are
increasingly going digital; traditional services like ticket booking, hotel
reservation, examinations, reading materials, academic programs, university
admissions, training, job applications, shopping, banking, tax systems,
business records, designs, security and government services are becoming
increasingly digitalized; forming part of everyday life and necessitating
demand for new skill sets in the labour market and in all professions. Digital
initiatives like cashless society are taking hold; internet and personal internet
accessible devices (desktops, laptops, smart phones, tablets, e-readers, games
console, smart watch, etc.) are increasingly available. All these are turning societies into what is
referred to as information age, computer age, knowledge society or digital
society where some degree of digital literacy is required for decent living,
employment and social life. The fast-paced technologies that characterize our contemporary
society are continually bringing the world closer, eliminating boundaries and
increasing competition between businesses and individuals from different
countries.
It is really important that Nigeria catches
on now by working coherently, intensively and objectively towards the
development of digital literacy in her citizenry, particularly the students.
Universities for instance need to work together in the areas of research;
exchange of digital content/material through digital library system; online
training programs; internet accessibility project like ‘edurom’ in UK and so on
– this cooperation is more important than ever in the face of dwindling state
funding. Such cooperation permit staff and students to use relevant resources
from other universities which otherwise would not be available to them, as it
pays more than retrogressive competition.
Academic institutions need to develop robust
digital literacy curriculum and delivery system, digital infrastructure
(including personnel), policies and processes that will enable and encourage the
development of appropriate level of digital literacy. The case of communication
sector demonstrate the global employment competitiveness and imperative for digital
literacy development. Expatriate workers were reduced in communication sector
from 274 in 2011 to just 13 in 2012, but the number increased to 248 in 2013 apparently
due to lack of requisite digital skills to fill the gap (NBC, 2015).
Institutions therefore need to pursue the
broader perspective of digital literacy rather than narrower area of
computer/ICT skills to enable their students/graduates participate meaningfully,
responsibly and safely in our digital world. This is particularly important for
employment and global competition where employers are increasingly considering
the value adding characteristics and strengths employees possess instead of
depending on just their skills’ level (hrtmsjobs.com, 2015), which underlines
the importance of critical and creative elements of digital literacy. For
proper understanding of digital literacy concept, I have given a few definitions
below:
Digital literacy is “the confident,
critical and creative use of ICT to achieve goals related to work,
employability, learning, leisure, inclusion and/or participation in society”……
Or “a set of Knowledge, skills and
attitudes that are required when using ICT and digital media to perform
tasks; solve problems; communicate; manage information; collaborate; create and
share content; and build knowledge effectively, efficiently, appropriately,
critically, creatively, autonomously, flexibly, ethically, reflectively for
work, leisure, participation, learning, socializing, consuming and empowerment (Ferrari 2012).” Jisc (2014) defined digital literacy
as “the capabilities which fit someone for living, learning and working in a
digital society.”
For more about digital literacy and its
elements which some scholars use interchangeably with ‘digital competence,’ ‘media
literacy,’ ‘information literacy’ and ‘ICT literacy’ please visit
My
study is looking at how digital literacy is developed in Southern Nigerian
University students from curriculum design to the delivery and the link between
graduate digital learning and graduate employability in Nigeria. In other
words, the relationship between what our students are taught or encouraged to
learn and digital capabilities or competences expected of them by their
potential employers.
Please if you graduated from any Nigerian university within the last 5 years and you are residing in UK click
http://digitalliteracyinnigeria.blogspot.co.uk/p/research-questionnaire.html to access the question. You will see 'participant information' page first, click 'next' at the bottom of the page after reading it, this will take you to page 2 which is consent page. Also read consent page and click 'go to questionnaire' at the bottom of the page to access the questionnaire.
Introduction to Digital Literacy PhD research questionnaire
