Harnessing digital literacy tools
Poster 10
Samanthi Suraweera
University of Southern Queensland
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Tuesday 5 December 3pm – 3.45pm
Refectory
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Abstract
This presentation aims to introduce The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Library’s “Getting Started in the Library” module, which was recently implemented to encourage better use of existing Library services and facilities by students. While this module was designed to increase accessibility to the Library, to cater to the diverse on-campus and online student cohort, an important secondary aim was to increase digital literacy skills by pedagogically supporting different learning styles. This need is evident as the current student cohort comprises of school leavers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, international students and incarcerated students along with over 70% of the overall cohort enrolled as online students. As such, USQ encounters students with varied access issues and digital literacy capabilities. Consequently, this learning module was developed to enhance student learning outcomes by relying on the evidence-based Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, Kinaesthetic (VARK) framework and the Technical Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK) framework. The module aligns with USQ’s commitment to provide flexible, personalised education supported by technology as it is an open access, online entry page that introduces the Library, its resources and services. Further, the content provided is student centric, innovative and interactive in nature, therefore representing a highly valuable and impactful resource to enhance digital literacy and student learning outcomes.
About the authors
Samanthi Suraweera
Samanthi Suraweera is an Information Professional who qualified in 2013. She has spent her time since, as a Librarian assisting the University of Southern Queensland s Education Support team. In 2015-2016 she was one of the University s Business Liaison Librarians. In 2017 she became a part of the Library s Research Support Team to continue developing research skills while supporting staff across the Business, Health and Science disciplines.