Terms of Information Engagement: Supporting Connection and Inquiry within Digital Learning Spaces

Though we are still connected, in fact, more connected, within the realm of the digital learning spaces, there is an undeniable abstraction of both information and relationship that comes with the lack of face-to-face interaction. As we lose opportunities of real-time engagement, this abstraction can prove detrimental to learning. The importance of information literacy— an ability to conduct research and apply critical thinking—within digital learning spaces requires us to understand if and how students are connecting to the information and to one another within these spaces. Connection within a shared space becomes the commonality for students in a digital classroom. Meeting synchronously (should) strengthen this commonality, just as it does within the face-to-face (FtF) classroom. However, current research suggests that this identification can be available even without synchronous online class meetings. Therefore, the purpose for this presentation is two-fold. First, this presentation will outline current research to define the keywords of information engagement as it relates to digital learning spaces. Engagement, here, refers to how students are maintaining connections with both their research and their peers. Then, these keywords will be applied to pedagogical methods that support both research connection and inquiry within these learning spaces