This post is part of an eight-part series introducing the The B.C. Post-Secondary Digital Literacy Framework. Each post will provide ideas and resources for implementing one of the eight thematic digital competencies outlined in the framework. You can read more about the framework on the Digital Literacy: Tools and Resources for VIU blog post. We are happy to be working in collaboration with VIU Libraries on this blog post series.
What does Communication and Collaboration mean?
A digitally literate person will be able to use online tools to communicate and collaborate with others and make valuable contributions in digital spaces. A digitally literate person will intentionally craft their messages based on how they want them to be interpreted.
How can you implement this competency?
Create authentic learning activities and assessments by considering how students will use digital tools to collaborate and communicate when they are practicing in their field. Are there particular tools or types of tools that are commonly used in their future workplaces? These may include, but are not limited to, social media, GenAI and internal communication. Here are some examples.
- Create a class Teams space where students can collaborate in and outside of class.
- Use Discussions in VIULearn to have students work through a problem or case study as a group. This is not only more engaging than the typical “respond to at least two posts” type of discussion, but also more accurately represents how digital tools can be used for meaningful collaboration.
- Find, or have your students find, GenAI policies for companies, organizations or professional associations in your field. Use these policies to design an activity or discussion related to the impact these policies will have on how students will be expected to communicate and collaborate in their profession.
Work with students to navigate the impact of GenAI on communication and how it has changed what it means to collaborate. There are many ways we can structure conversations to encourage making informed decisions about how, when and why to use GenAI. Here are a few blog posts for inspiration.
- Building AI Literacy
- Navigating Digital Technology in Teaching and Learning
- Practical Prompting for Teaching and Learning
- The AI Assessment Scale
Let your students know that they can get help with VIULearn, VIUTube, VIUBlogs and Teams from the CIEL. Here is some text you can copy and paste into your VIULearn course as an announcement or in a welcome module.
If you need help with VIULearn, VIUTube, VIUBlogs or Teams contact the Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning (CIEL).
Email: LearnSupport@viu.ca
Phone: 250.740.6179
Our Offices: Building 305, Room 511 and Room 512, Nanaimo Campus
Co-create with your students. Many course elements can benefit from being co-created with your students. Rubrics, assignments, communication guidelines, due dates and appropriate technology use are some of them.The co-creation process allows students to gain a deeper understanding of course expectations and why they exist. It also provides the instructor with valuable information about student learning interests and priorities. In addition to the strategies provided on our Classroom Community page, the resources below can help you decide which element(s) of your courses can be co-created with students and how to get started with the process.
- Digital Citizenship: Toolkit for co-creating classroom netiquette agreements
- Annotating the Syllabus
- Talking to Students about GenerativeAI
- Build it Together: Co-Constructing Success Criteria with Students
Create a Tech Survey in VIULearn that asks students to share information about their digital literacy, access to technology and comfort level in digital spaces. We have created a survey that you can import directly into VIULearn. You can download it from OneDrive and import it into your course. Our Import Course Materials page will guide you through this process. We have also created a Word version of the survey.
This page is part of a Digital Literacy Toolkit designed for faculty at VIU. All content in this toolkit is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY).