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Technology (2012) [Video file] Retrieved from
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Digital
literacy can be defined as the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, and share
information effectively; an essential skill for engagement and citizenship in
the 21st century (Education World, 2016). Students are constantly bombarded with confusing
media advertisements, Instagram and Twitter posts, Facebook and Pinterest
sharing pages and other multimedia digital platforms. We must accept our roles
as partial consumers of the media, but change the narrative in which we receive
and interpret this information; we can no longer be passive and feeble but
critical and informed.
According
to the Ministry of education, technology can be a true asset as it has the
capability of contributing positively to local and global communities by
connecting otherwise isolated groups (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2005). The vast wealth of knowledge that is
available to our students is truly extraordinary, and this open accessibility
of information can make learning more meaningful and engaging. There is no longer
an option to ignore digital expansion, but rather educators must learn to
embrace it and utilize it to the best of his/her abilities. Keeping in mind the
ministry’s criteria for a good digital citizen, we must teach our students how
to identify credible sources, respect the intellectual property of others, and
use effective strategies for information searches (including keywords,
narrowing search perimeters, etc.) (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2005). Alongside these strategies, Education World
has provided a comprehensive list of digital literacy resources for teachers
that can be used in a variety of educational settings with many age groups.
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iPad Dream2 (2010) [Video file] Retrieved from
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lancesh/5066618648/
in/photolist-8HHKcW
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Reflecting
on my own experiences, I was asked to put together an educational video that I
would show to my classmates on a topic of my choosing, and I found this process
incredibly rewarding. For students who do not excel in writing, recording sound
clips can be an effective alternative for displaying information. One of my
most memorable placements was in a kindergarten classroom; I was amazed at the
level of skill and digital aptitude that these students displayed. They were
asked to create a video on Pete The Cat where
the students would count the buttons on his jacket, describe the shoes he was
wearing, and where he was planning on going. The students were excited to share
their stories with the class, and took pride in the videos they had created.
This goes to show how incredibly versatile technology can be, and when employed
appropriately can spark new learning, engagement and creativity.
Despite
the obvious ‘pro’s’ of technology in the classroom, there are also a few
drawbacks to consider when creating lesson plans. It can be a distraction for
the children, so you must create a structure and culture of respect when working
with digital aids. Secondly, not all students will have access to these digital
sources at home, or you make work in a school that does not have iPads, camera’s,
or smartboards in their classrooms. To combat this, teachthought provides a wonderful
list of digital resources for those who are looking to implement technology
into their classroom free of charge.
Ultimately,
we need the full range of skills we associate with media and digital literacy
in order to take full advantage of the rights we hold as consumers, online community
members, and citizens. Technology also has a strong influence on communication,
and allows experimentation in pedagogy and assessment; for example, instead of
grading a paper you may choose to grade a documentary produced by a student. Becoming
digitally literate is an absolute necessity in the 21st century, and
as educators it is our responsibility to prepare them for this task.
References
Acedo, M. (2013, December). 25 teaching tools for
the digital classroom. In Teachthought: We GrowTeachers. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
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Technology (2012) [Video file] Retrieved from
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinshine/6969804185/in/photolist-bBU4XF-efoWfy-
CC
iPad Dream2 (2010) [Video file] Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/lancesh/5066618648/in/photolist-8HHKcW
Granata, K. (2016). Ten Digital Literacy
Resources for Teachers. In Education World.
Retrieved March31, 2016.
Ontario
Ministry of Education. (2005). The Ontario curriculum grades 1-8: Health and
physical
education.
