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SUMMARY:Navigating Digital Literacy: Exploring First-Year Students' Challe
 nges and Support Needs in South African Higher Education - Dr Vuyo Mntuyed
 wa (Cape Peninsula University of Technology\, AfOx fellow)\, Dr Danica Sim
 s (University of Oxford)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20250612T125000
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20250612T140000
UID:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/7f627909-1473-4a6e-9f21-905c5bb02033/
DESCRIPTION:This study examines the digital literacy experiences of first-
 year students at a South African university\, focusing on understanding th
 e challenges and support mechanisms that shape their ability to use techno
 logy effectively. These insights aim to inform the design of a comprehensi
 ve digital literacy course that better meets the diverse needs of first-ye
 ar students in higher education. Data were collected through focus group d
 iscussions\; participants from various facilities\, such as the business a
 nd engineering faculty and mixed faculty participants\, explored their def
 initions of digital literacy\, initial learning experiences\, frequency of
  computer use\, and support. The findings reveal that while students gener
 ally define digital literacy as the ability to use technology\, many face 
 significant challenges\, including language barriers\, technical difficult
 ies\, and inadequate support\, particularly in academic assignments and pr
 esentations. Participants overwhelmingly prefer face-to-face instruction f
 or digital literacy due to concerns over network reliability and the quali
 ty of direct guidance. Moreover\, the study highlights a critical gap in t
 he existing digital literacy curriculum\, with students calling for an exp
 anded course encompassing diverse academic skills such as report writing a
 nd investigative research. These insights provide valuable implications fo
 r designing a comprehensive digital literacy course that can better equip 
 students to meet the demands of a rapidly digitalizing educational landsca
 pe. The study concludes with recommendations to update technological infra
 structure\, enhance digital literacy training\, and provide targeted suppo
 rt for under-resourced students.\n\nJoin in-person or online: https://team
 s.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OWI2M2ZjODItNjMyMC00ZjkwLWE5ZDg
 tYTE5Y2U3MzJlMzY3%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22cc95de1b-97f5-4f
 93-b4ba-fe68b852cf91%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%225f581465-1def-4d51-8d4c-45a3b26b5
 b58%22%7d\nSpeakers:\nDr Vuyo Mntuyedwa (Cape Peninsula University of Tech
 nology\, AfOx fellow)\, Dr Danica Sims (University of Oxford)
LOCATION:15 Norham Gardens (Seminar Room E and online)\, 15 Norham Gardens
  OX2 6PY
TZID:Europe/London
URL:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/7f627909-1473-4a6e-9f21-905c5bb02033/
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DESCRIPTION:Talk:Navigating Digital Literacy: Exploring First-Year Student
 s' Challenges and Support Needs in South African Higher Education - Dr Vuy
 o Mntuyedwa (Cape Peninsula University of Technology\, AfOx fellow)\, Dr D
 anica Sims (University of Oxford)
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