Research Article
Technology Literacy According to Students: What is It, Where are We and What Should We Do for Parents and Children?
Abstract
Nowadays, there is a swift transformation in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and all technological devices and tools affect our lives both on an individual and societal level with their innovations. Especially such technological devices as computers, mobile phones and tablet PCs require us to know how to use these technologies efficiently, therefore aiming to make their use and the lives of individuals and societies much easier. In this view, the concept of technology literacy comes to the prominence. In this study designed qualitatively, the opinions of 25 students from the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technologies about the term ‘technological literacy’ are collected. A definition is made using these concepts while students define technological literacy as becoming aware and following, ability to use, problem solving and benefiting from its use in social life. In addition to that, students stated negative opinions about the society in which they live. They stated that there is an unconscious and purposeless or limited technology use even though the use of technology differs to a great extent in terms of age. Students also made a recommendation for parents and children to get education on technology, to acquire further information and to keep a close track on technology
References
- However, Altun (2005:11) states that a society which do not utilize from new technology in its daily life
- will eventually affect its own objectives about social life of its people and will come to a point not to
- realize this fact, instead of shaping it via responding the social objectives of these tools. All these issues
- are taken into consideration under the term ‘technology literacy’. The opinions of 25 candidate teachers
- of CEIT department are gathered in terms of technology literacy, which is believed to have a high level
- of technology literacy in this view and the results are given below.
- Students bring such issues on technology literacy into the prominence respectively as skills to benefit
- from technology, problem solving/productivity, being aware of technology, following technological
- devices and requirement of a social life. Using the themes obtained from students’ expressions,
- technology literacy can be defined as “being aware of technology and following technological devices,
- using these technologies by all people within a society both effectively and productively to solve problems.”
- It is possible to argue that there is an ICT-digital focused viewpoint in students’ opinions due to their
- department (CEIT). Becta (2010) defines digital literacy as “the combination of skills, knowledge and
- understanding that young people need to learn in order to participate fully and safely in an unceasingly
- digital world”, and states that digital literacy involves four dimensions, which are functional technology
- skills, critical thinking, collaborative skills and social awareness. These dimensions closely correspond to
- the opinions of students.
- On the other hand, all these expressions point out the term ‘information literacy’, which also involves
- technology literacy in addition to many other literacy types. McClure (2001) stated that the intersecting
- point of all literacy types such as media literacy, network literacy, visual literacy, technological literacy
- and computer literacy, all of which resulted from technological advancement. Doyle (1994: 2-3) stated
- that an individual with information literacy should possess the above mentioned main characteristics
- besides the use of information technologies, reaching sources, organizing data for further applications,
- problem solving and social interaction dimensions. Therefore, the findings are in parallel to information
- technology, which is accepted as common ground for all literacy types.
- Students, in general, made a negative evaluation about the society in which they live in terms of
- technology literacy. They especially stated that it is used under a technical or limited framework or used
- without conscious. When the data published by State Planning Organization (SPO) (2006:23) are
- examined, it is remarkable that the levels of utilizing from technological devices by the public are quite
- low. In the same framework with this plan, it is also remarkable that there are three recommendations
- made to increase these data, which are common (technological) access, higher motivation and focused
- competence (ability to use). The intergenerational differences are the outcome of digital transformation
- experienced nowadays. Prensky (2001) stated that there are two societies living together, one is defined
- as digital immigrants and the other as digital locals; adding that digital locals are more competent to
- use technology and new generation uses technology much better than its parents (digital immigrants).
- Therefore, age is an important factor in technology use and it is an important result that students
- underlined it as a distinctive element.
- All recommendations made by the students for parents and children involve education and awareness
- raising activities in terms of positive use of technology. Becta (2010) emphasizes the importance of
- education to increase literacy. However, the findings indicating that technology literacy will be increased
- by the acquisition of research skills especially designed for students are also significant. Doyle (2004)
- also stated that literacy is increased by the development of research skills in his study where he dealt
- with literacy within the framework of information technology.
- Alkali Y. E. & Hamburger, Y. A. (2004). Experiments in digital literacy. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(4), 421-429.
- Altun, A. (2005). Gelişen teknolojiler ve yeni okuryazarlıklar. Ankara: Anı Yayıncılık.
- Becta (2010). Digital literacy: teaching critical thinking for our digital world. Coventry: Becta.
- C. Hill & T. Heard (2010). Technology Literacy in Fort Bend ISD, Retrieved April 12, 2014, from at http://www.fortbendisd.com/docs/action-research-reports/technology-literacy-in-fort-bend- isd.pdf
- Doyle, C. S. (1994) Information literacy in an information society: A concept for the information age. New York, Syracuse University.
- DPT (Devlet Planlama Teşkilatı) (2006). Bilgi Toplumu Stratejisi (2006-2010). Haziran 2011, Retrieved April BT_Strateji/Diger/060500_BilgiToplumuStratejisi.pdf. from at
- http://www.bilgitoplumu.gov.tr/Documents/1/
- Eisenberg, M.B. & Johnson, D. (2002). Learning and Teaching Information Technology: Computer Skills in Context. ERIC Document Reproduction No. ED 465 377.
- Hansen, J. W. (2003). To change perceptions of technology programs. Journal of Technology Studies, 29, 16-19.
- International Technology Education Association (ITEA) (2000). Technology for All American Project; Standards For Technological Literacy: Content for The Study of Technology, Reston, Virginia.
- Judson, E. (2010). Improving technology literacy: does it open doors to traditional content?. Educational Technology Research and Development, 58, 3.
- Kress, G. (2003). Literacy in the New Media Age. London: Routledge.
- Link T.M. & Marz R. (2006). Computer literacy and attitudes towards e-learning among first year medical students. BMC Medical Education 6, 34.
- Longman, P. (2003). Dictionary of contemporary English. UK: Pearson Longman
- McClure, C. R. (2001). Network literacy in an electronic society: An educational disconnect?In R. W. Kubey (Ed.), Media literacy in the information age: Current perspectives (pp. 403-440). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.
- Miles, M. B. & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Potter, J. (2005). Media Literacy, Third Eddition, CA: Sage Publications.
- Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants,On the Horizon, 9(5), 1–6.
- Volti, R. (2006). Society and technological change. New York: Worth
- Web, (2003). Technological questions and issues; What is technology?. Retrieved April 12, 2014, from at http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/trinity/watistec.html
- Yıldırım, A. & Şimşek, H. (2006). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştirma yöntemleri. Ankara: Seçkin Yayınevi.
- Yin, R. K. (1984). Case study research: design and methods. Newbury Park, CA.:Sage.
Öğrencilerin Gözüyle Teknoloji Okuryazarlığı: Nedir, Neredeyiz, Aile ve Çocuklar İçin Neler Yapmalı?
Abstract
Günümüzde ICT’lerde hızlı bir dönüşüm yaşanmakta, yenilik olarak karşımıza çıkan teknolojik araçlar ve ürünler bireysel ve toplumsal olarak yaşamı etkilemektedir. Özellikle bilgisayar, cep telefonu, tablet PC gibi çoğu teknolojik araç, bu teknolojilerin etkin bilinmesini, kullanımını ve bu sayede bireylerin ve toplumun yaşamının kolaylaştırılmasını amaçlamaktadır. Bu kapsamda teknoloji okuryazarlığı kavramı ön plana çıkmaktadır. Bu araştırmada nitel olarak desenlenen bu araştırmada 25 bilgisayar öğretmenliği bölümü öğrencisinin görüşleri ile teknoloji okuryazarlığı kavramı ele alınmıştır. Öğrenciler teknoloji okuryazarlığını teknolojiden haberdar olma ve takip etme, kullanabilme, problem çözme ve sosyal yaşamda yararlanabilme boyutları ile değerlendirmiş, bu değerlendirmelerden yola çıkılarak da bir tanıma ulaşılmıştır. Ayrıca öğrencilerin, içinde yaşadıkları toplumu olumsuz biçimde değerlendirdiği sonucu dikkat çekmiştir. Daha çok bilinçsiz ve amaçsız ya da sınırlı düzeyde bir teknoloji kullanımının var olduğu, buna karşın yaşa göre kullanımın farklılaştığı değerlendirmesinde bulunmuşlardır. Öğrenciler ailelere ve çocuklara yönelik teknolojiler konusunda eğitim alma ve bilgilendirilmenin, ayrıca teknolojinin yakından takip edilmesinin önemini dile getirmişlerdir
References
- However, Altun (2005:11) states that a society which do not utilize from new technology in its daily life
- will eventually affect its own objectives about social life of its people and will come to a point not to
- realize this fact, instead of shaping it via responding the social objectives of these tools. All these issues
- are taken into consideration under the term ‘technology literacy’. The opinions of 25 candidate teachers
- of CEIT department are gathered in terms of technology literacy, which is believed to have a high level
- of technology literacy in this view and the results are given below.
- Students bring such issues on technology literacy into the prominence respectively as skills to benefit
- from technology, problem solving/productivity, being aware of technology, following technological
- devices and requirement of a social life. Using the themes obtained from students’ expressions,
- technology literacy can be defined as “being aware of technology and following technological devices,
- using these technologies by all people within a society both effectively and productively to solve problems.”
- It is possible to argue that there is an ICT-digital focused viewpoint in students’ opinions due to their
- department (CEIT). Becta (2010) defines digital literacy as “the combination of skills, knowledge and
- understanding that young people need to learn in order to participate fully and safely in an unceasingly
- digital world”, and states that digital literacy involves four dimensions, which are functional technology
- skills, critical thinking, collaborative skills and social awareness. These dimensions closely correspond to
- the opinions of students.
- On the other hand, all these expressions point out the term ‘information literacy’, which also involves
- technology literacy in addition to many other literacy types. McClure (2001) stated that the intersecting
- point of all literacy types such as media literacy, network literacy, visual literacy, technological literacy
- and computer literacy, all of which resulted from technological advancement. Doyle (1994: 2-3) stated
- that an individual with information literacy should possess the above mentioned main characteristics
- besides the use of information technologies, reaching sources, organizing data for further applications,
- problem solving and social interaction dimensions. Therefore, the findings are in parallel to information
- technology, which is accepted as common ground for all literacy types.
- Students, in general, made a negative evaluation about the society in which they live in terms of
- technology literacy. They especially stated that it is used under a technical or limited framework or used
- without conscious. When the data published by State Planning Organization (SPO) (2006:23) are
- examined, it is remarkable that the levels of utilizing from technological devices by the public are quite
- low. In the same framework with this plan, it is also remarkable that there are three recommendations
- made to increase these data, which are common (technological) access, higher motivation and focused
- competence (ability to use). The intergenerational differences are the outcome of digital transformation
- experienced nowadays. Prensky (2001) stated that there are two societies living together, one is defined
- as digital immigrants and the other as digital locals; adding that digital locals are more competent to
- use technology and new generation uses technology much better than its parents (digital immigrants).
- Therefore, age is an important factor in technology use and it is an important result that students
- underlined it as a distinctive element.
- All recommendations made by the students for parents and children involve education and awareness
- raising activities in terms of positive use of technology. Becta (2010) emphasizes the importance of
- education to increase literacy. However, the findings indicating that technology literacy will be increased
- by the acquisition of research skills especially designed for students are also significant. Doyle (2004)
- also stated that literacy is increased by the development of research skills in his study where he dealt
- with literacy within the framework of information technology.
- Alkali Y. E. & Hamburger, Y. A. (2004). Experiments in digital literacy. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(4), 421-429.
- Altun, A. (2005). Gelişen teknolojiler ve yeni okuryazarlıklar. Ankara: Anı Yayıncılık.
- Becta (2010). Digital literacy: teaching critical thinking for our digital world. Coventry: Becta.
- C. Hill & T. Heard (2010). Technology Literacy in Fort Bend ISD, Retrieved April 12, 2014, from at http://www.fortbendisd.com/docs/action-research-reports/technology-literacy-in-fort-bend- isd.pdf
- Doyle, C. S. (1994) Information literacy in an information society: A concept for the information age. New York, Syracuse University.
- DPT (Devlet Planlama Teşkilatı) (2006). Bilgi Toplumu Stratejisi (2006-2010). Haziran 2011, Retrieved April BT_Strateji/Diger/060500_BilgiToplumuStratejisi.pdf. from at
- http://www.bilgitoplumu.gov.tr/Documents/1/
- Eisenberg, M.B. & Johnson, D. (2002). Learning and Teaching Information Technology: Computer Skills in Context. ERIC Document Reproduction No. ED 465 377.
- Hansen, J. W. (2003). To change perceptions of technology programs. Journal of Technology Studies, 29, 16-19.
- International Technology Education Association (ITEA) (2000). Technology for All American Project; Standards For Technological Literacy: Content for The Study of Technology, Reston, Virginia.
- Judson, E. (2010). Improving technology literacy: does it open doors to traditional content?. Educational Technology Research and Development, 58, 3.
- Kress, G. (2003). Literacy in the New Media Age. London: Routledge.
- Link T.M. & Marz R. (2006). Computer literacy and attitudes towards e-learning among first year medical students. BMC Medical Education 6, 34.
- Longman, P. (2003). Dictionary of contemporary English. UK: Pearson Longman
- McClure, C. R. (2001). Network literacy in an electronic society: An educational disconnect?In R. W. Kubey (Ed.), Media literacy in the information age: Current perspectives (pp. 403-440). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.
- Miles, M. B. & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Potter, J. (2005). Media Literacy, Third Eddition, CA: Sage Publications.
- Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants,On the Horizon, 9(5), 1–6.
- Volti, R. (2006). Society and technological change. New York: Worth
- Web, (2003). Technological questions and issues; What is technology?. Retrieved April 12, 2014, from at http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/trinity/watistec.html
- Yıldırım, A. & Şimşek, H. (2006). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştirma yöntemleri. Ankara: Seçkin Yayınevi.
- Yin, R. K. (1984). Case study research: design and methods. Newbury Park, CA.:Sage.
There are 65 citations in total.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | February 1, 2014 |
| Submission Date | February 6, 2015 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2014 |