Abstract: This article considers how media educators can respond to the new challenges and opportunities of the Internet, and of digital media more broadly. It begins by exploring the value and limitations of the notion of 'literacy' in this context. It argues that 'competence-based' definitions of literacy tend to neglect the social diversity of literacy practices, and to retain a narrow focus on 'information', and it suggests that a broader definition of literacy necessarily entails a more critical approach. It then moves on to consider the nature of digital literacy more specifically. It argues that definitions of digital literacy have tended to take a rather limited view of information, and of issues of reliability and bias, and it proposes a broader approach which recognises the social and ideological nature of all forms of mediated representation. Following from this, it then provides some concrete indications of ways in which media education approaches might be applied specifically to the analysis of the World Wide Web, using the established framework of 'key concepts' (representation, language, production, audience). Finally, it considers the potential of digital media production in the classroom as a means of promoting digital literacy. It distinguishes between the approach adopted by media educators and more instrumental or expressive approaches. It then considers the difficulties of such work in a context where a 'digital divide' in access to technology continues to exist, both within and between societies. It argues that the benefits of digital technology in this respect depend crucially on the pedagogic and social contexts in which such technology is used, for example, in the opportunities that are provided for collaborative production and for students sharing their work with a wider audience. The article concludes by arguing that digital literacy needs to be seen as part of a broader reconceptualisation of literacy, and of the use of technology in education.

Abstract: Since the advent of technologies available for teaching and learning, schools have been advocating considerable amount of their funds for the procurement of hi-tech technologies. Despite this huge investment, there is a little success achieved so far. It is obvious that technology integration is a complex and demanding issues and this puts more burdens on schools. On the other hand, technology planning, as a process and product, holds a number of promises to overcome those problems. Thus, the purpose of this present study was to illustrate how technology planning process was carried out in a private K-12 school in Turkey. Data were collected from 105 teachers, 25 administrative staff, and 376 students. Teachers and administrative staff were asked to fill out a questionnaire to gather data on their perceived computer literacy, issues related to ICT usage. Students were also asked about their perceptions on the current utilization of ICT at their school. Additionally, unstructured interviews were conducted with administrative staff and teachers to validate data obtained through questionnaires. Data were descriptively analyzed to provide necessary input for the technology planning process. Findings indicated that even teachers and administrator staff felt themselves competent in using ICT available at the school; they reported a lack of guidelines that would lead them to successful integration. On the other hand, students reported that ICT is not utilized sufficiently in their classes. Finally, the study illustrated how necessary data were collected and findings were transformed into suggestions to frame a technology plan for a school.

Abstract: This article reports on a study into the impact of students' use of the Internet and the computer at home on digital skills they need for school. The study was conducted in the lower grades of Dutch secondary education (students aged 13-15). More than 2500 students, distributed over 116 classes in 68 schools, participated in the study. Internet and computer skills were measured by means of an objective test. Multilevel analysis was used to examine the impact of home access and use on Internet and computer skills taking into account the effect of students' backgrounds. Students in pre-university education, third-graders and non-minority students appeared to have better Internet skills and a more advantageous home computer use than students in pre-vocational education, first-graders and minority students, respectively. The Internet skills of girls were hardly less developed than those of boys. Home access to e-mail and the extent to which students use the home computer for surfing, e-mailing, chatting and text processing were found to be substantially related to Internet and computer skills (taking into account the effect of several background characteristics of the students).

Abstract: In the present study, we reject the view that computer use can be studied as an isolated variable in a learning environment. Our main objective is to develop an instrumental tool to measure different types of educational computer use in the classroom. This builds on a comprehensive review of the literature about computer use in education. This review helped to construct a questionnaire to identify a typology of computer use in primary education. In addition, the questionnaire was enriched by input of experts in this field. The questionnaire was presented to a sample of 352 primary school teachers. The input from a first subsample was used to carry out an exploratory factor analysis; the second subsample was used to verify the identified factor structure via confirmatory factor analysis. A three-factor structure of computer use in primary education was identified: ‘the use of computers as an information tool’, ‘the use of computers as a learning tool,’ and ‘learning basic computer skills’. The three-factor structure was confirmed in the confirmatory factor analysis. The results underpin a number of meaningful differences in the current practice of computer use in primary education.

Abstract: A sample of at least 800 undergraduate students at a participating medium-sized midwest public university was selected using a stratified random sampling technique. The researcher delivered and administered the surveys to the participating students and collected them after completion. 98% of the questionnaires were complete and retained for analysis. Two major statistical techniques were used to analyze data obtained in the study: a multiple regression and a Two-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). A statistically significant relationship was found between the three predictor variables and the criterion. The Two-Way ANOVA results indicated no interaction effect between gender and course levels, and students’ perceptions of the effect of computer technology use to improve their learning. The main effects of gender and course levels were not statistically significant. The results indicated that students lack computer skills in various computer applications that are necessary to support and enhance their learning experiences. Therefore, it can be suggested that students need to have direct instruction to efficiently use computer technology applications such as authoring and sophisticated hypermedia. These programs provide computer skills in advanced computer technology applications that will enable faculty members to expect more disciplinespecific computer-based projects such as developing a webquest in a web editor.

Abstract: From recent doctoral research into information literacy and workplace learning, an understanding of information literacy as a complex constellation of experiences and relationships with a range of information modalities is emerging. It is constituted through the connections among people, artifacts, texts, and bodily experiences that draw a person into context and enable him or her to know the landscape. A three‐year qualitative study of firefighters in regional New South Wales, Australia, is described. It was framed by constructionist thinking about the nature and role of information literacy in learning about practice and profession and about the relationship between power and knowledge. The findings of the study support a new definition of information literacy that recognizes information literacy as a way of knowing, that is, as more than just the acquisition of skills and attributes. Becoming information literate in the workplace requires experience with social and physical modalities as well as with t...

Abstract: This paper aims to discuss the role and impact that information technology (IT) has on the future and existing style of learning and teaching. It highlights the importance of acquiring computer skills and being literate in IT. The focus is put on certain areas related to IT and education which include pedagogy and training to build IT literacy among both educators and learners. Particularly, it covers the current trends in IT development and how it has started to change and will further influence the way learning and teaching will take place in the future. This paper also discusses various theoretical frameworks and methodologies designed to cope with progress in IT. In summary, this paper delivers a message that IT literacy is the key to today’s empowerment and that education is the best foundation for it.

Abstract: Increasing numbers of educational institutions are adopting an online approach to teaching and learning; however, little regard has been given to the prerequisite personal and technical qualities required for academic achievement and satisfaction within this environment. In recognition of this, researchers have been exploring the design, development and testing of diagnostic tools to assess student readiness for online learning. This study builds on previous work by the authors to further validate their diagnostic tool for assessing Tertiary students' readiness for online learning (TSROL) which has four subscales: 'Technical skills', 'Computer self-efficacy', 'Learner preferences' and 'Attitudes towards computers'. Factor and reliability analyses revealed that Technical skills and Computer self-efficacy possessed good reliability and validity, and 'Attitudes towards computers' fair reliability and validity. However, 'Learner preferences' required revision as it possessed poor reliability and validity. Analysing the demographic data revealed that older students had lower Technical Skills and computer self-efficacy than younger students. The TSROL can be improved by adopting a more multidimensional interpretation of the Learning preferences and Attitudes towards computers subscales.

Abstract: Despite the digital saturation of today's youth across demographic groups, students of color and females remain severely underrepresented in computer science. Reporting on a sequential mixed methods study, this article explores the ways that high school computer science teachers can act as change agents to broaden the participation in computing for historically underrepresented students. Three high school case studies reveal a critical need for professional development and support to do this work. The subsequent part of the study focuses on the impact of a district-university intervention which trained 25 urban teachers to teach Advanced Placement computer science in their schools. The swift success of this intervention was evident from the following years' dramatic increase in course offerings and enrollment of females, Latinos, and African Americans.

Abstract: Many school literacy practices ignore adolescents' new digitally mediated subjectivity as it has been shaped by the new media age. Youth possess often unappreciated repertories of practice which allow them to use their imagination and creativity to combine print, visual and digital modes in combinations that can be applied to new educational, civic, media and workplace contexts. This paper reports on research in two middle years classrooms in New York City's Chinatown, where students' design skills were recognised and validated when they were encouraged to critically re-represent curricular knowledge through multimodal design. The curriculum, rather than privileging print-only representations, recognised the linguistic, social, economic and cultural capital that different students brought to school. The findings suggest schools should harness youths' creativity – that often manifests itself through their capital resources – as they integrate and adapt to the new digital affordances acquired through their out-of-school literacy practices.

Abstract: This study evaluates the reliability of self-assessment as a measure of computer competence. This evaluation is carried out in response to recent research which has employed self-reported ratings as the sole indicator of students' computer competence. To evaluate the reliability of self-assessed computer competence, the scores achieved by students in self-assessed computer competence tests are compared with scores achieved in objective tests. The results reveal a statistically significantly over-estimation of computer competence among the students surveyed. Furthermore, reported pre-university computer experience in terms of home and school use and formal IT education does not affect this result. The findings call into question the validity of using self-assessment as a measure of computer competence. More generally, the study also provides an up-to-date picture of self-reported computer usage and IT experience among pre-university students from New Zealand and South-east Asia and contrasts these findings with those from previous research.

Abstract: Elizabeth Simpson (2005) believes the relevance and engagement demands of today's generation of learners are largely unmet in typically didactic classrooms Video games, she argues, can provide an opportunity to meet this challenge, since many teenagers already choose to live much of their real social lives in virtual space—exchanging instant messages, meeting friends online, and interacting with real people in virtual game worlds Video games cross "all cultural and ethnic boundaries [but] not recognizing that these shared experiences exist, public education has failed to provide for the impact of that experience on students' learning" (Simpson 2005, 17) Her argument represents the growing momentum of scholars and researchers who believe video games are the gateway to computer literacy and to better education in general (eg, Gee 2003; Halverson 2005; Foreman 2004) Along with their intrinsically engaging properties, games have been touted for their ability to teach ill-defined problem-solving skills, elicit creativity, and develop leadership, collaboration, and other valuable interpersonal skills via constructivist/active learning and Vygotskian social scaffolding (Prensky 2001; Gee 2003)

Abstract: Alow level of computer literacy has often been hypothesized as constituting a disadvantage in knowledge acquisition. However, within the field of computer-supported inquiry learning systematic investigations of these purported relations have not been conducted. This classroom study investigates the role of computer literacy (procedural computer-related knowledge, selfconfidenceinusingthecomputer,andfamiliaritywithcomputers)asalearningprerequisitefor knowledgeacquisition,andanalysesthelearners’patternsofmediauseasprocessesthatmight explain this role. Thirty-seven students from two final classes of a secondary school worked in pairs on the project ‘How far does light go?’in the Web-based Inquiry Science Environment. Findings did indicate significant relations of neither procedural computer-related knowledge nor self-confidence in using the computer to knowledge acquisition. However, students with

Abstract: Using data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) state assessment and a survey of state-level technology policies, this study examined digital equity in education as a multilevel organizational phenomenon with data from 70,382 students in 3,479 schools and 40 states. Students in rural schools or schools with higher percentages of African American students were likely to have less access to computers. With respect to computer use, girls and students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch were more likely to use computers more frequently when computers are available in the classroom. With respect to relationships between computer access and computer use, having computers available in a lab increases the likelihood of higher levels of computer use. The results suggested that no more than 5% of the variance in computer access can be attributed to state factors, and less than 1% of the variance in computer use was between states. The findings suggested that where student technology standards are integrated into subject-area standards, computer use was likely lower than in other states. In states where pre-service teachers must meet technology-related requirements to receive their teaching credential and states where funds earmarked for technology are distributed as competitive grants, computer use was likely to be higher.

Abstract: With the rapid integration of information technology in the healthcare field, equipping nurses with skills to effectively use the technology is vital. Evaluations of nursing students' nursing informatics competencies are scarce in nursing programs as reported in the literature. The current study was implemented to evaluate the self-reported nursing informatics competence of undergraduate baccalaureate students upon admission and graduation in the years from 1997 to 2005 and to compare the differences between admission and graduation. The Gassert/McDowell Computer Literacy Survey was used to survey 411 students on admission and 429 students on graduation from a baccalaureate nursing program. Results showed a significant increase during the 8-year period, both on admission and graduation, for reported level of experience with word processing, electronic mail, and World Wide Web. Areas of less experience that did not increase significantly were spreadsheet experience, database experience, and use of statistical programs. The nursing informatics competencies established for beginning nurses include databases, spreadsheets, word processing, presentation graphics, and keyboard skills. The results of this study indicate nursing education programs currently may not be providing beginning nurses with the tools needed to effectively and efficiently work in the technology-rich healthcare arena.

Abstract: Beginning nurses need informatics skills to work efficiently in an environment that increasingly relies on information technology to promote patient safety. In addition, a federal order mandates that all Americans have an electronic medical record by 2014. Nursing programs must integrate informatics content into their curricula to prepare nurses to use information technology. This article describes a baccalaureate (BSN) curriculum evaluation of nursing informatics content. Results can inform faculty about strategies that can strengthen informatics competencies. A research-based tool, based on the informatics competence work of Staggers, Gassert, and Curran, was developed to evaluate course syllabi. Although evidence of learning experiences related to computer skills was present, students were not routinely exposed to computerized systems. No syllabi included evidence that addressed informatics knowledge competencies. We conclude that students received limited informatics exposure and may not be adequately prepared to use information technology. Recommendations for increasing nursing informatics experiences within a BSN curriculum are offered.

Abstract: This research applied Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory to examine engagement with courseware in traditional and online remedial mathematics learning environments. The study investigated the relationship of courseware engagement to age, computer self-efficacy, computer playfulness, and self-efficacy for self-regulated mathematics learning. The study also analyzed mathematics achievement in terms of engagement, age, gender, mathematics grade self-efficacy, and self-efficacy for self regulated mathematics learning. Participants were 88 students in a traditional environment and 76 students in an online environment. The two groups differed significantly in age, mathematics grade self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy, computer playfulness, courseware engagement, and mathematics achievement. When controlled for age, all significant differences found between the two groups persisted. When controlled for mathematics self-efficacy, the groups no longer differed significantly in mathematics achievement, but ...

Abstract: LITERACY FOR CHILDREN IN AN INFORMATION AGE was developed in response to the urgent need for a literacy methods book that is relevant in today's information-driven society. Cowen and Cohen present a modern, useful text that defines literacy using technology and meets the changing needs of K- 12 instructors, providing practical tips for integrating technology into literacy instruction. As technology has had a profound impact on the nature of K-12 teaching-especially the teaching of reading and writing-some scholars believe that today's digital technologies have changed the meaning of "literacy." Similarly, nearly every state has included technology-related competencies in their standards at nearly every grade level. With this in mind, LITERACY FOR CHILDREN IN AN INFORMATION AGE also includes examples of best practices, software packages, and websites.

Abstract: This article describes national and international comparative quantitative and qualitative empirical results for media use and media behaviour of elderly people against the background of demographic change and development in the sphere of information technology. Besides gender, professional position and educational qualification, age and affiliation to a generation are – in terms of ‘country’, origin or culture – the most significant predictors of whether someone is familiar with the computer and the Internet and whether he or she is using it in a competent way in private life and in their occupation. In addition to the international studies covered, this article focuses principally on the German situation, because the relative increase in the proportion of elderly people in that country has advanced the furthest in comparison with the rest of the world. Germany is playing a pioneering role in this respect. Searching for explanations which go beyond quantitative interpretation, a generation-specific model...

Abstract: In this paper, the design and implementation of a novel introductory computer science course for non-majors is presented. This course focuses on the major contributions in computer science from the perspective of the process of computation. This course differs from most introductory courses in computer science in that it does not include programming using a computer programming language. Students focus on algorithms and the principle of computational thinking, and use a flowchart simulator to experiment with various short algorithms and build simple computer games without dealing with programming language syntax. Steadily increasing enrollments and interest from various departments on campus indicate that this course has become a successful addition to our introductory CS offerings.

Abstract: The study assesses the readiness of the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, to formally integrate information literacy (IL) into their curricula. A multiple case study approach was adopted and in-depth interviews with some heads of departments and librarians were carried out. The study revealed that library literacy, computer literacy and communication skills literacy are being carried out to some extent in both institutions. Some constraints which could impede the smooth implementation of a campus-wide information literacy project in the universities include the large enrolment numbers and the lack of collaboration or cooperation among departments carrying out some IL initiatives. The study recommends, among others, the sensitization of the whole university community to the IL programme and the important role the libraries and information professionals should play in the implementation of IL projects.

Abstract: A comprehensive, formal comparison of strategies used by preservice teachers to learn how to use new technology has yet to be researched. Understanding the relative strengths and weakness of learning strategies would provide useful guidance to educators and students. The purpose of the current study was to explore the effectiveness of four learning strategies: collaboration, using authentic tasks, formal instruction and exploratory learning. Seventy-four preservice teachers (25 male, 49 female) were surveyed at the beginning and end of an 8-month, consecutive, Bachelor of Education programme, with respect to their learning strategies, change in computer knowledge and use of computers in the classroom. Collaborative learning and use of authentic tasks were the most preferred strategies - formal instruction was the least preferred. A collaborative approach to learning was the best predictor of gains in computer knowledge. Authentic tasks and collaborative strategies were significant predictors of teacher use of computers in the classroom. Preference for authentic tasks was the only predictor of student use of computers. Regardless of strategy preference, selecting more than one primary learning tool was significantly correlated with amount learned and use of the computers in the classroom. Ability was not related to strategy preference. Finally, females preferred collaborative approach to learning, although they were significantly more open to using multiple strategies than males.

Abstract: Decision aids have been developed by using various delivery methods, including interactive computer programs. Such programs, however, still rely heavily on written information, health and digital literacy, and reading ease. We describe an approach to overcome these potential barriers for low-literate, underserved populations by making design considerations for poor readers and naive computer users and by using concepts from entertainment education to engage the user and to contextualize the content for the user. The system design goals are to make the program both didactic and entertaining and the navigation and graphical user interface as simple as possible. One entertainment education strategy, the soap opera, is linked seamlessly to interactive learning modules to enhance the content of the soap opera episodes. The edutainment decision aid model (EDAM) guides developers through the design process. Although designing patient decision aids that are educational, entertaining, and targeted toward poor readers and those with limited computer skills is a complex task, it is a promising strategy for aiding this population. Entertainment education may be a highly effective approach to promoting informed decision making for patients with low health literacy.