Employer Perceptions of Critical Information Literacy Skills and Digital Badges

Abstract

Digital badges are an educational innovation used to measure learning of specific skills, such as information literacy. However, few studies have quantitatively surveyed employers for their perceptions about information literacy skills or digital badges. An online survey was developed and sent to employers to gauge perceptions of information literacy skills of college graduates and the use of the innovation of digital badges to represent competencies that students have accumulated. Here are the results of the survey: information literacy and metaliteracy skills are valued in the workplace; employers would like more detailed representations of student skills; and digital badges are a possible way to showcase student achievement.n the workplace, employees are expected to have several skills and competencies in the area of information literacy. The information literacy standards have recently been revised to incorporate a model of metaliteracy, which espouses a comprehensive array of dynamic dispositions and collaborative abilities in addition to the traditional skills and practices of information literacy. Recent changes in the workplace environment emphasize the use of digital resources, the ability to create and share artifacts using digital resources, and the expectation that employees can collaboratively work in teams. These new workplace demands parallel a shift in librarianship from the traditionally skill-focused information literacy toward the overarching framework of metaliteracy. Although college students may possess these critical skills, competencies, and literacies, there is a lack of transparency and proof to show employers that new graduates possess them. A sustainable solution to the challenges of the "one-shot" nature of information literacy instruction has not been realized and there remains a lack of systemic information literacy instruction in higher education. A potential way to alleviate issues associated with traditional forms of instruction and the desire to certify granular skills of college graduates is to use digital badges. Digital badges are a recent technological innovation that can scaffold the learning environment for students and visually represent the abilities gained to a broader community.

Assessing Digital Information Literacy in Higher Education: A Review of Existing Frameworks and Assessments With Recommendations for Next‐Generation Assessment

“…Similarly, De Saulles () attributed loss of business income in the United Kingdom to inefficient searching for information. Others have reported that many workforce employees lack the skills to use information effectively (Head, ; Raish & Rimland, ; Thompson, ).…”

Value of Open Microcredentials to Earners and Issuers

“…Liyanagunawardena, Scalzavara, and Williams (2017) Recently, in a study examining the opinions of education employers, it was discovered that upon learning about education badges, education employers felt that such badges could be valuable pieces in an application (Randall & West, in press). Another study (Raish & Rimland, 2016), found in a nationwide survey of employers in the United States, that only 5% would not be interested in open badges. However, the concept is still largely unknown with employers, as Raish and Rimland (2016) also found that 62% of the respondents wanted to learn more about open badges.…”

“…Another study (Raish & Rimland, 2016), found in a nationwide survey of employers in the United States, that only 5% would not be interested in open badges. However, the concept is still largely unknown with employers, as Raish and Rimland (2016) also found that 62% of the respondents wanted to learn more about open badges.…”

Global Citizens Awareness Through Digital Literacy In the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Riview of the Literature

“…Meanwhile there are eight key elements that characterize digital literacy, which are mutual understanding and respect for a culture, as well as to have cognitive digitalization, and a constructive, communicative, confident, creative, critical, and civic understanding (knowing how to use technology to increase civic engagement and social action) in the digital environment with a global scope [28]. Other categories in conceptualizing digital literacy are (a) innovation, (b) thinking critically and using quality information, (c) collaboration, (d) technology, ethics, and self-awareness, and (e) finding and gathering information [29]. The understanding of digital literacy is further defined by The ALA Digital Literacy Task Force as the ability to use information and communication technology to find, evaluate, create and communicate information that requires technical and cognitive skills [30].…”