HELP,
MY CONTENT STANDARDS ARE TOO FULL! MY SKILL STANDARDS ARE TOO COMPREHENSIVE! Digital literacy, however, does not have to be my wafer thin mint. (thank you Monte Python's Meaning of Life... but I could not upload an image for fear of grossing out my audience) How will I teach Digital Literacy in an already full curriculum? The answer is simple but not easy. As teachers in the modern American educational system, we know that we have too many skill and content standards to meet individually throughout the school year. We, therefore, package the standards together to allow a few standards to be met in the same lessons or units. We also prioritize the standards and put our energy and first focus on power standards that are musts. As we progress further into teaching digital literacy, I think we need to do the same. As I plan units, I have shifted focus away from the content only focus of NCLB (thank you Common core!). After identifying the basic content of the unit, my focus first is on reading, writing, and communicating skills that my students will improve while we explore the content. Adding digital literacy into the mix is becoming easier as I learn more about the options myself. I have found that this does, in fact, take time. Introducing new tools to students that will increase their creativity in writing and communication will take away from lesser, non power standards. Teaching students to use even comparatively simple reading and annotating tools such as Diigo again takes time. Going back to the "wafer thin mint" analogy: we need to cut back on our portion sizes; allow for students to choose their leaning paths (similar to the examples show in http://www.personalizelearning.com/p/models.html); and let ourselves and the students choose the most nutritious learning foods (content and skills) so that they can become the best they can be in the 21st century that they grow up in. T
3 Comments
Joe Hall
2/25/2017 11:40:18 am
I agree that there should be a set of standards to be taught at each grade level in regarding digital literacy. I also think digital literacy, digital skills, and digital citizenship need to be all well defined and taught.
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Jennifer Wade
2/25/2017 02:34:24 pm
"Bring me a bucket..." Perfect analogy to what we are all feeling as instructors. Integration is the only way that digital literacy can be taught along side the content standards. I see this integration working well in upper grades and throughout the curriculum because students have (I believe) their own computers that they use all day at school and at home. Learning about what upper grade teachers are doing in the cohort to integrate technology is exciting. All of you seem truly inspired.
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Becky
2/27/2017 11:34:44 am
Todd,
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About MeAfter teaching for 20 years, I've decided to pursue a master's degree! Archives
July 2017
CategoriesThis is me working on my classwork... usually at night after the heater is off.... sitting long times makes me cold!
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