Ideas for Summer

There are lots of buzz words in education.  The one that has peaked my interest lately is digital literacy.  What is that exactly?  A definition I recently read: Digital Literacy is using digital technology communication tools and/or networks to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate information in order to function in modern societies... Goodness – what a mouthful.

So, how do teachers begin to develop digital literacy in their students? Well, first they have to develop their own digital literacy skills.  That is my idea for summer for you – develop your own digital literacy skills so you can teach it to the kids. So, how?

1)    Get comfortable with the Internet.  Until you do, you will always struggle.  This means you have to play, and play often. Watch YouTube videos and let kids show you how to do something, like how to set up iTunes.  Dedicate a 15 minutes a day to learning something new.

2)    Play with different Web 2.0 tools like blogs and wikis, but start personal before trying it with your curriculum. For example, create a wiki to help your family plan the next family reunion. Folks can add their ideas for others to see and comment on. Wikispaces.com is a great place to start.

3)    Learn how to use anti-virus software. This is especially important to those of you who are terrified of accidentally clicking on the wrong link (especially for those of you who are just learning to play).  A great site is http://thebeehive.org/digitalbasics/2010/12/22/intermediate-setting-up-virus-protection/.

4)    Learn how to test the validity of a website.  People often just use the top hits on a Google search, but those aren’t always valid sites. Use REAL to remember four steps for validation:

Read the url

Examine the content

Ask about the author

      Look at the links

5)    Take the digital literacy course offered by the SDCOE July 24-25.  I just completed the two-day course and I learned a lot.  Visit http://sdcoe.k12oms.org/864-59514 to register.  It’s $29, but that includes lunch and is totally worth it.