Albertus Magnus College Receives Davis Educational Foundation Grant

The Davis Educational Foundation has awarded Albertus Magnus College a $173,100 grant to promote the development of student and faculty digital literacy.1 According to the New Medium Consortium Horizon Report, 2014 Higher Education Edition, The American Library Association's Digital Literacy Task Force defines digital literacy as the ability to use information and communication technology to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information. Digital literacy has been deemed critically important to both students and instructors in higher education, but it is widely acknowledged that many faculty members lack the training to ensure that their students are able to use this technology to the most effective and successful extent possible. The three year grant will fund faculty development initiatives aimed at supporting the use of best practices in the design and implementation of blended and online courses; developing students' critical thinking skills in traditional, blended, and online programs; and integrating instruction in digital literacy into the curriculum.

The project aligns with the College's strategic plan, Albertus 2020: A Strategic Path for the 21st Century, which identifies the need to implement the innovative and distinctive delivery of academic services. Faculty members will engage in instructional technology training and will design 60 courses incorporating best practices in course design to assist students in the development of their critical thinking and digital literacy skills. Other elements of the project include the redesign of student orientation programs to include sessions on the effective use of information technology resources, the development of a course design services department within the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, and the establishment of a curriculum innovation lab. The initiative will enhance student access and success through effective uses of technology, the development of flexibly delivered academic programs, and the implementation of high-impact practices.