by Massimiliano Spano - Politecnico di Torino

Introduction

In an interesting report of Joint Research Centre have been reviewed needs for digital competence, different concepts used to describe and understand it, and also related policy approaches and measurements. It is important developing digital competences both for readers and publishers. The model proposes higher level aspects, not detailed enough to be used as learning or assessment items as such. Rather, the objective is to highlight all the different knowledge, skill and attitude areas that should be considered when developing digital competence. The proposed structure is sufficiently flexible to allow the concept of digital competence to be tailored to different target groups of learners and digital users.

The main conclusions of the study presented in the report have been be summarized as follows:

•        Ensuring digital competence for all is necessary. It provides important benefits and the lack of it can lead to various dangers for children, young people, workers, the elderly, groups at risk of exclusion and all citizens in general. The digital competence needed today does not automatically follow from the use many people make of the internet or their computers.

•       The digital competence landscape is multi-layered, and an all-encompassing widely applicable and agreed single definition is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. It is more useful to aim for an approach which recognizes the main areas and can be adapted according to the needs of different target groups and situations.

•        Digital competence for 21st century must include instrumental knowledge and skills for tool and media usage, advanced skills and knowledge for communication and collaboration, information management, learning and problem-solving and meaningful participation. These must be supported by intercultural, critical, creative, responsible and autonomous attitudes.

•        Instrumental knowledge and skills are a precondition for developing or using more advanced skills. These must be ensured for all at an appropriate level. However, it is crucial to realize that these instrumental skills are not enough as such; digital competence must be considered as a higher level concept than simply being able to use digital tools and media. The development of safe and productive attitudes should be integrated in learning all levels of skills.

•           Developing a high-level conceptual model for digital competence is only a first step. Collaboration with stakeholders and elaboration into operationalised learning and assessment items are needed in order to develop guidelines that are usable and useful on a European scale for supporting digital competence development.

The recommendations above are immediately understandable in the area of Electronic publishing (EP). As proposed in the E2 project, EP can be described as a document distributed primarily through electronic media in different forms. As shown in the project, EP is transforming itself in a wide range of products, usable with different devices, although most of them try to be like the traditional publishing while others are ground-breaking in their approach and design.

Information Technology has brought about changes from traditional print to electronic format. Electronic publishing, uses new technology to deliver books and other content to readers. Since the technology consents publishers to get information to the readers rapidly and appropriately, it is causing major changes to the publishing industry and stakeholders in the publishing sector. The application of electronic technology to almost every aspect of human activities is on the spread in the contemporary era of digital information. For example, In the scholarly publications, which is a relatively new channel, has radically changed global availability of electronic publications. At the moment, readers are no longer confined to print publications but can search, obtain and download scholarly papers from electronic journals, electronic books, and electronic archives.

Characters of electronic publishing

The electronic publishing has many qualities, which makes it to be unique as outlined: EP contents spread to researchers within the little time;  ease of making correction if need arises, an electronic text can be updated or underlined or modified with the same immediacy. EP allows anyone competent to “publish” and provides high global visibility for the works.

The need to understand the significant features that are involved in electronic publishing process is essential for “new” e-publisher and for readers, however similar with traditional publishing but this component does not disappear in the electronic era. The valid content, clarity of expression, and effectiveness of presentation increase as more of the journals are read on the screen. This allows comments and contributions from readers within the shortest period of time contrary to traditional publishing that associated with delay in peer review and editing processes. The elements of the publishing process are:

• Author preparation - to create intellectual content.
• Peer Review - to ensure scientific quality and appropriate scholarship.
• Copy editing and typography – for clarity and effectiveness of presentation.
• Database preparation-the core of electronic system, to ensure access and interoperability.
• Production and Distribution - to make literature available for use.
• Archiving to ensure continuing availability and authenticity and to maintain the historical record.

Benefits of electronic publishing

Latamore (2011) carried out a study on benefits of electronic publishing over paper printing. He saw that thirty years after the PC revolution put computing power in the hands of virtually every employee, almost all documents are created electronically. In the current information technology era, publisher must be attentive on EP, because it would increase the spread of the publications, solve like high cost and restrictive policies associated with traditional publishing. However, the character of EP cannot be over emphasized considering the benefits:

• one of the most obvious advantages of e-books over traditional publishing is significantly lower production costs;
• rapid publication since electronic speed the process of peer review, manuscripts can be immediately received attention with acceptance letter sent to author;
• faster publishing time for accepted manuscripts. Rather than waiting up to two years for a manuscript to see print;
• large citations can be searched and retrieved simultaneously and instantly;
• innovative use of multimedia: to present findings and other forms using sound, movies and simulation;
• hypertext and hypermedia links: linking to other electronic information is possible at faster speed and EP facilitates open access (OA) principles (visibility and accessibility).

Over and beyond the great benefits derived from electronic publishing,  limitations include:

• different formats: there are many formats of electronic publications;
• copyright infringement; copyright is an issue that stakeholders bothered to tackle, especially in an online environment. Using authors work without appreciation or permission is very common in electronic publications, due to free access. Therefore, it is highly essential to discuss the concept of copyright for adequate awareness and benefits to the stakeholders.

Finally

The revolution has just begun and is rapidly undergoing further development and adaptation. Electronic publishing has the potential of greatly increasing the dissemination of knowledge throughout the publishing ground and beyond. With access to basic ICTs and the development of new devices such as tablets and large screen smartphones whose technology is expanding in parallel to the development and use of EP, stakeholders will take advantage of all the numerous benefits derived from electronic publishing and electronic media.

Latamore, B. (2011). The advantage of electronic publishing over paper print. Retrieved 8th September, 2012.

Ala-Mutka, K. (2011). Mapping Digital Competence: Towards a Conceptual Understanding. European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Prospective Technological Studies.