It’s a fact that we are all busy in our classes when it comes to teaching our content. But Digital Literacy is something that is essential to talk or teach in the classroom. Students are constantly on their phones and using applications to communicate with the world. But how safe are students? This is something that I have thought about before but never in the sense of teaching specific standards, ISTE, to my Math or AVID students. After discussing some of the standards in our class and exploring websites like KQED Mindshift, Common Sense Media and other sites, there’s a sense of relief of all the resources they provide on how to teach this content in our classroom. To me, this seems like a great way to begin a school year, hoping that this positive culture of media use can also expand to the positive and safe environment I want to build in my classroom among my students and myself.
This past school year, we began classes on a Wednesday and for those 3 first days of class I didn’t do any Math. I had a bunch of team bonding activities along with discussions that revolved around making mistakes in my math class. I wanted to begin with this since Math has the reputation that in order to be successful you have to get the correct answer to a Math problem. But in my opinion that is not the case, it’s more about the journey of getting an answer in Math, to be a Mathematician. This is where I think that lessons on digital literacy can play an important role. For example I can provide students with the web page on Cyber bullying on from Common Sense Media. Students can also work among friends, if they know people, and watch a video and then create some sort of poster on their findings and then share their ideas with another group. This is an example on how I can begin teaching digital literacy with other subjects like what students should or should not share on social media and many other topics.
7 Comments
Matt Kelly
6/11/2018 04:26:53 pm
I was also happy to find out that there were so many resources available for us to use. Through all of the sites that you mentioned, there should be more than enough information and lessons for us all to build some very engaging lessons for our kids.
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Adam Levine
6/11/2018 05:18:29 pm
I definitely agree with you when you say that the use of these sources are a great way to start the year. By starting early, we are instilling in our students how important the topic of digital literacy are. The beginning of the year is the best time to do this because that is when we are establishing norms and routines in our classrooms.
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James Macariola
6/11/2018 09:05:13 pm
I agree with you and Adam. I believe this is a great strategy to use especially at the beginning of the school year. When classes are still being settled, students are still transferring into school, and maybe even your book room is not ready to hand out class materials, teaching Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship is a great way to fill time. I also like you idea of bonding games where you are transforming your class into a mini-family. When our students feel more safe in the classroom, students will take more risks and open more to you.
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Scott Marsden
6/12/2018 04:10:05 pm
Sam,
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Paula
6/13/2018 08:29:53 pm
You are right, there are many resources that can support teachers with instructing students with digital literacy. It was refreshing to read that you actually feel relieved to have all the resources available to you for the beginning of the next school year.
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Sarah Tinloy
6/13/2018 11:04:19 pm
I too was nervous about teaching digital literacy in the middle of the curriculum, but have been relieved at the amount of resources that have are available to us. I like your idea of incorporating it into the first couple days of class.
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Kendra Parsons
6/14/2018 04:17:52 pm
I love your mindset on math, you are so correct that it is not just about getting the right answer. I also think it is a great idea to set the stage for digital literacy in the first several days of school. I also wonder how we can all push ourselves to make sure that it is something that is incorporated throughout. How can digital literacy and digital citizenship really become a part of the classroom and the culture, not just something we do. It would be great to work together and have some math lessons that incorporate these ideas.
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