Digital literacy initiatives in Canada: Exploring successes from multiple perspectives

This poster presents initial results of a study exploring digital literacy training provided by public libraries and other community organizations in Canada. The goal of the study is to identify best practices for these kinds of training opportunities, and to prepare a toolkit that public libraries and community organizations can use to evaluate these initiatives. In addition, the study seeks to contribute to theoretical understanding of digital literacy and digital literacy instruction. The study, being undertaken by scholars across multiple disciplines, and supported by partners in the public library sector and other community organizations, will build knowledge and understanding from interdisciplinary and inter-institutional perspectives. Methods include case studies in public libraries and other community organizations, as well as a national survey of public libraries. The poster presents initial results of case studies of digital training initiatives offered by public libraries and other community organizations in one medium-sized and in one large Canadian city

The Effect of Sociability on Socio-spatial Interaction and Learner Social Presence in Mixed-Reality Online Learning Environments: Using Head-mounted Wearable Items in Group Learning Activities

In online learning environments, little is known regarding the effect of head-mounted wearable devices on group learning behavioral outcomes, and the impact the mediated communication type has on socio-spatial interactivity and learner social presence. Interaction and presence are two important concepts that influence group activity. Drawing on social interaction, social presence, and the characteristics of mixed-reality environments, we develop and empirically test hypotheses on the effectiveness of three different types of digitally mediated mixed-reality learning environments

Adoption and Use of Community Municipal Portals

Initial findings from a project examining community municipal portal adoption are reported. The study employs a theoretical model showing a causal effect of organizational factors and portal interface characteristics on a person’s intentions to use a community municipal portal and how individual demographics and perceptions mediate this effect. Six community municipal portals in Ontario, Canada participated. A questionnaire completed by internal portal stakeholders gives background on the portals’ purpose, history, functionality, IT support, and governance. An enduser survey administered to 1,753 respondents polls end-user demographics, perceptions, and behaviors. First phase results give insight on the organizational factors surrounding the implementation of community municipal portals (e.g., partner tensions, governance issues, low end-user involvement, marketing and financial concerns) and how they may influence low usage behaviors exhibited by a narrow demographic. Future phases of the study that further explore the impact of organizational factors and end-user characteristics on portal use are described

End-user adoption of animated interface agents in everyday work applications

Recognizing the potential contribution that interactive software agents bring to everyday work applications, this paper reports on end-user adoption of animated interface agents in one particular work application environment: Microsoft 1 Office. The paper develops and empirically tests a theoretical model of the factors affecting an end-user’s choice to adopt and utilize such interface agents. From this theoretical model, a survey instrument was adapted and administered to 261 participants, familiar with animated interface agents. Results from a partial least squares (PLS) analysis indicates that a variety of factors are at play, which inhibit or foster a person’s choice to utilize and adopt animated interface agents. Of significance is that: (a) both perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment are important influencing factors; (b) users with high scores in innovativeness toward information technology are less likely to find animated interface agents enjoyable; (c) individuals with high animation predisposition scores perceive animated interface agents to be more enjoyable; and (d) users who perceive animated interface agents to be more enjoyable also perceive them to be more useful. Such insights can be used to leverage the introduction and rollout of animated interface agents in everyday work applications in ways that promote their avid adoption and use

Factors Affecting the Adoption of Online Library Resources by Business Students

The goal of this study is to explain how information literacy instruction (ILI) influences the adoption of online library resources (OLR) by business students. ILI was measured in terms of the amount of overall, active, and passive ILI received. A theoretical model was developed and tested by means of a survey of 337 business students, which included both closed and open-ended questions. Findings indicate that the ILI received by students is beneficial in the initial or early stages of OLR use; however, students quickly reach a saturation point where more instruction contributes little to the final outcome, such as reduced OLR anxiety and increased OLR self-efficacy. Rather, it is the independent, continuous use of OLR after receiving initial, formal information literacy instruction that creates continued positive effects. OLR self-efficacy and anxiety are important antecedents to OLR adoption. OLR anxiety partially mediates the relationship between self-efficacy and perceived ease of use

An Empirical Investigation of Student Learning Outcomes of Information Literacy Instruction in a Business School

This study presents and tests a research model of the psychological, behavioral, and benefit outcomes of information literacy instruction (ILI) given to undergraduate business students. This model is based on expectation disconfirmation theory and insights garnered from a recent qualitative investigation by the research team on student learning outcomes from ILI given at three business schools in Canada. The model was tested through a web survey administered to 372 students at one of these schools. The model represents psychological, behavioral, and benefit outcomes as second-order molecular constructs. Results from a Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis reveal that prior student expectations influence perceived quality and expectation disconfirmations. These in turn affect student psychological outcomes. Further, psychological outcomes influence student behaviors, which in turn affect benefit outcomes. Based on the study’ s findings, several recommendations are made

Successful Community Municipal Portal Diffusion: Internal Government Factors and Individual Perceptions

This paper presents findings and research directions of an in-progress study examining the factors affecting successful community municipal portal diffusion. Several community municipal portal sites in the Province of Ontario, Canada are being investigated via questionnaires sent to portal administrators at six portal sites, and web surveys completed by 1,753 end-users at five of these six sites. In the study’s first round, internal government factors shaping the implementation of community municipal portals, as well as usage patterns and end-user demographics, are identified. The study’s second and third rounds use these results to test a new theoretical framework that comprises both internal government factors and individual perceptions. Importantly, information quality is suggested to be a key individual perceptions factor that not only affects successful community municipal portal diffusion, but also plays a pivotal role in mediating the effect of internal government factors on a person’s use of a community municipal portal site

Users and Usage of Community Websites: The myhamilton.ca Experience

This paper presents research results pertaining to the users and usage of the myhamilton.ca community website. Data collection and analysis occurred during two different phases. The first involved the administration of an online survey and the tracking of website activities of 466 actual end-users in which a unique identification feature linked participants’ website activities with their demographic and personality data. During the second phase, a more detailed online survey asked for self-reports of website usage from 733 end-users. Results from both rounds of data collection suggest that the website provides a valuable service and is superior to traditional methods of information gathering, but there is a need to increase website usage and to reach a broader demographic. Discussion ensues on how managers of myhamilton.ca are actively addressing these concerns via the myhamilton Renovation Project as a means of increasing website utilization

Community-led digital literacy training : towards a conceptual framework

An exploratory study investigated the factors affecting digital literacy training offered by local community organizations, such as public libraries. Theory based on the educational assessment and information literacy instruction literatures, community informatics, and situated learning theory served as a lens of investigation. Case studies of two public libraries and five other local community organizations were carried out. Data collection comprised: one-on-one interviews with administrators, instructors, and community members who received training; analysis of training documents; observations of training sessions; and a survey administered to clients who participated in these training sessions. Data analysis yielded the generation of a holistic conceptual framework. The framework identifies salient factors of the learning environment and program components that affect learning outcomes arising from digital literacy training led by local community organizations. Theoretical propositions are made. Member checks confirmed the validity of the study's findings. Results are compared to prior theory. Recommendations for practice highlight the need to organize and train staff, acquire sustainable funding, reach marginalized populations, offer convenient training times to end-users, better market the training, share and adopt best practices, and better collect and analyze program performance measurement data. Implications for future research also are identified.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/asihj2023Information Scienc

Digital literacy training in Canada, Part 2 : Defining and measuring success

This study explores how public libraries and other local community organizations can best deliver and evaluate the digital literacy initiatives they provide to the communities they serve; this article focuses on program evaluation. Interviews with 14 administrators of digital literacy programs revealed that administrators espouse idealistic intentions for digital literacy programs, particularly to give marginalized people increased educational and vocational opportunities. These administrators are also confident in the success of these programs, despite little formal assessment of outcomes for learners. Success is measured by numbers of program participants and anecdotal evidence of positive outcomes for learners, such as increased confidence or an intention to move forward with career goals. This limited approach to measuring the success of digital literacy programs reveals significant opportunity to more fully and systematically evaluate the outcomes of these programs and to assess whether program goals are being met and ongoing investment of resources is merited.http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/page/lq/brief.htmlhj2023Information Scienc