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Reading Review Part A


What is Digital Literacy?

I think I know what Digital Literacy is...I should know what it is. I have taught my grade seven computer class for three years. Because of the times were are in currently, I have stepped back and am only teaching humanities, but I am still my school's go-to technology person. Be it hardware, software, or how to issues, I am the one everyone comes to. But do I really know what this idea means, have I been incorporating it in my classroom, can even teach others how to understand/utilize/teach it? I guess it is time for me to find out.

I always try to incorporate some aspect of technology and the interwebs into my lessons and projects. This means that I add videos, TedTalks, infographics, or games to my lessons and I allow students to use these same things with projects, assignments, or presentations. Does this mean I am teaching and making sure my students know and understand Digital Literacy? I am not sure. So I guess that is what I am going to learn and read about. 

Some of the keywords that I am going to look up are:
  • Online safety
  • Fake News vs Real News
  • Reliable Sources
  • Copyright vs Usable Content
  • Cyberbullying
  • Networking
  • Social Media
  • Bias
I realize that these keywords are very wide-open and I will likely have to narrow down my thoughts and my findings, but I guess that is what I am supposed to do...

Narrowing my Thoughts

Another area I have been pondering is whether or not I am going to use Minecraft within my Social Studies projects. I have always wanted to try to utilize these learning games as I do enjoy them myself, but I have been hesitant because I know I do not quite know how to wrap my brain around what I would be asking the students to do. I am pretty sure, though, if I give my students a semi idea, they will fly with it. 

If I choose to narrow my research to just this aspect, I think the keywords would be:
  • Minecraft
  • Education
  • Curriculum
  • Scope and Sequence
  • Evaluation
  • Resources
  • Presence
  • Sharing
  • Creating
  • Creativity
I really enjoy this image that I found when I was first researching ideas to add digital aspects to my projects:

Picture from Cole, Kristen. "The Epic Guide to Digital Literacy in Education." Schoology Exchange. 
https://www.schoology.com/blog/epic-guide-digital-literacy-education


I have tried to keep these steps in mind as I work through some of my newer revisions of lessons and I hope that I continue to use these steps through this course and research as well.






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Location: Cranbrook, BC, Canada

Comments

  1. Aaron MuellerJan 26, 2021, 7:02:00 AM

    An interesting approach to this inquiry assignment! I like the idea of 'confirmation' of something you've been doing, using, and teaching, and to confirm it is what you hope it to be, to be effective, to modernize your teaching of digital literacy and to explore implementation a little better with a new toolset perhaps? I think you are right to expect some of your students to fly, given the opportunity to explore within new environments like minecraft. Also, insightful to include that hierarchy of skills, and useful keywords and search terms going forward. Good topic selection that is pertinent and realistic, supporting your current environment and classroom.

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