4217 students engage in the Digital Academic Literacy Programme: 2021 - online delivery and facilitation
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Digital Academic Literacy (DAL) Programme: 1st Year & Senior Students
In this 21st Century, CIECT focuses on a Digital Academic Literacy (DAL) Programme, where on the one hand staff and students are able to easily navigate and interact within online platforms; and on the other hand, many students still require basic computer literacy skills. Thus, CIECT delivers the DAL Programme to novice users (1st year students), as well as advanced users (senior students/ other year levels).
DAL Integration into Accredited Modules [Faculty Collaboration]
The CIECT Team collaborates with the Faculty to identify student needs. The DAL Programme is integrated into accredited modules across various faculties including EMS, Education, CHS, Dentistry, Law, Arts and Natural Science. The DAL Programme entails the following basic literacy packages; and eTools training (familiarisation of the institutional Learning Management System/ iKamva).
Digital Literacies | |
Introduction to Computers
| Engage in basic computer literacy skills, including: Internet; hardware & software components; creating folders; manage files & folders; saving and submitting academic tasks; understanding cyber security; navigate and effective use of Gmail. |
Enter and manipulate text using Microsoft Word | Create documents, complete academic tasks. In addition, skills acquired enhance the learning experience. |
Set up a Workbook using Microsoft Excel | Capture data on a spreadsheet; generate graphs based on captured data/content; manipulate formulae |
Create presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint | Set up and configure presentations using digital content (text, audio, video and images, etc.) |
Navigate and engage within the Learning Management System (LMS), iKamva | Navigate the online classroom; contribute to discussion topics; submit assignments; access course resources eTool; download & upload content (text and digital media components) |
Multimodal Approach: Facilitation of large-scale basic literacy programme during national lockdown [4217 students]
Due to the national lockdown, 55 classes per week were delivered via a multimodal approach:
- Google Hangouts ‘Live’/synchronous classes
- iKamva (LMS): Various eTools used, such as Announcements, Course Resources, Test & Quizzes, Assignments, Discussion Forum, and Lessons Tool
- Skills Assessment Manager (SAM): An online platform, which hosts an interactive environment, including simulations, instructional videos and a self-assessment interface. Students are able to view instructional videos on how to complete tasks. Thereafter, students are able to practice skills, before completing an online assessment.
Continuous Assessments & Participation
Students are expected to engage in the DAL Assessments. These were made available via iKamva. *Some students did not participate during this first semester due to data and device challenges. A total number of 244 (6.08%) students did not participate (online classes, activities, and assessments).
DAL Programme 2021: Service Level Agreements with Faculties
The DAL Programme is offered over a semester to participating Faculties. Departments engage with CIECT to design customised lessons. Extensive planning and collaboration with departments, includes:
- The CIECT team conducts formal meetings with specific departments, to discuss the scope of the delivery of the Digital Academic Literacy
(DAL) Programme. The meetings entail aspects related to departmental specific needs; Programme outline and the agreement of the delivery of specific packages. - CIECT and the department develops and signs Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- The CIECT team recruits senior students as Tutors (co-facilitators) to assist with the DAL programme via work-study programme.
The table depicts the number of students trained in since 2016 to date [29 September 2021]. The list includes one new department, namely Sociology (SOC 151).
Digital Academic Literacy Programme (DAL) | ||||||
Y E A R | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021* |
EMS | 2071 | 1198 | 1466 | 1778 | 1275 | 1360 |
Arts | 428 | 429 | 380 | 360 | 348 | 944 |
CHS | 397 | 124 | 442 | 411 | 504 | 590 |
Dentistry | 136 | 130 | 123 | 119 | 109 | 111 |
Science | 180 | 126 | 116 | 226 | 270 | 142 |
Law | 606 | 667 | 734 | 606 | 615 | 581 |
Education | 602 | 501 | 547 | 632 | 539 | 483 |
Total Trained | 4420 | 3175 | 3808 | 4132 | 3660 | 4217 |
The CIECT team collaborates with departments (in advance) – to prepare for the upcoming academic year.
NB: CIECT welcomes collaboration for 2022 semester 1 [i.e. additional departments] – if we are going to remain online for 2022.
NB: CIECT is not able to accommodate any new department for the 2022 academic year semester 1 [i.e. if we are going to deliver face-to-face]. Please contact us to arrange for semester 2 in 2022. Planning involves collaboration with the ICS Department for Labs/Venues.
Contact the Manager: DAL to plan and customise, in advance for 2022. Mr Fundile Nkunge at fnkunge@uwc.ac.za; X3147
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