23 Things for Digital Knowledge (free open online course)

Brief Abstract

The University of Edinburgh’s 23 Things for Digital Knowledge is an award winning (LILAC Credo Digital Literacy Award 2017, MERLOT 2022), self-directed online course, run by Information Services Group. The course uses a playful approach to encourage digital exploration and scaffolds essential knowledge including digital footprint and safety, accessibility, diversity & inclusion, and copyright awareness.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Stephanie Charlie Farley, University of Edinburgh

Stephanie (Charlie) Farley provides support and training in the creation and use of OER across the University and maintains the Open.Ed webpages. Charlie runs regular OER, copyright and open licensing, workshops and training sessions, and the popular OER Game Jam sessions for various groups at the University. Additionally, Charlie leads the 23 Things for Digital Knowledge programme, advises on the use of Social Media in Learning and Teaching, and the ISG Playful Engagement themes and goals. Rarely seen without an electronic device in her hand, Charlie is passionate about playful engagement and the uses of technology to enhance open education, access, and information sharing.

Extended Abstract

Every day we hear about some new digital app, tool, or thing we should be learning about or using, but when do we set aside time to actually experiment and try out all of these things?

Winner of the 2017 LILAC Credo Digital Literacy Award and MERLOT Instructional and Design Technology Classics Award for 2022, the course launched for its first run in 2016 and provides a structured way for staff and students to set aside that time to build up skills and experiment with new digital tools.

Inspired by 23 Things Oxford and based on the original 23 Things program (Charlotte & Mecklenburg Public Library, 2006), the course uses the established structure of twenty-three Things, with each Thing being a subject or tool. An introduction and a task is provided for each Thing along with suggested readings and resources. How much time and detail is set aside for each Thing is completely optional.

Participants are asked to register a blog (as part of Thing 2), and to share short blog posts about each of the 23 Things they complete. Although optional, blogging provides a space to test out and experiment with many of the Things. It creates a space for interaction with other participants, the opportunity to offer support and advice, and to reflect on what it is that has been learned.

The blog is also used to submit completion of the Things to be eligible for an Open Badge, and could be used as evidence for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) either for work appraisals or towards external accreditation.

The course uses a playful approach to encourage digital exploration and scaffolds essential knowledge including digital footprint and safety, accessibility, diversity & inclusion, and copyright awareness.