The biggest question of our time as educators to me: How do we fit it all in, and how do we make it relevant and meaningful? Like anything, Digital Literacy needs to be tied into what I am already teaching to make it relevant, and not just one more thing. In my current position, I support Academic Specialist and teacher leads in how to bring it all together. To begin thinking about how to incorporate Digital Literacy, we need to think beyond "substitution". In reviewing the SAMR model, I also found the RAT model (Replace, Amplify, Transform) RAT (Hughes et al, 2006). This model has been used for pre-service teacher education and I believe might support my work with professional learning. Teachers learn about technology in close connection to subject matter content, making it relevant. Having a tight focus or problem of practice, which many PLC/sites have in place, gives a place to start exploring digital technologies as possible solutions. In order to do that they need to begin with Digital Literacy, the foundation. Like with reading foundational skills, writing, speaking and listening, these need to be explicitly taught. I have continued to review the Common Sense Media scope and sequence and resources as a place to begin with these foundations. Our district has worked with Michael Fullan a lot in the past few years, and I found this quote very relevant to our discussions in this Masters program. "Many of the innovations, particularly those that provide online content and learning materials, use basic pedagogy – most often in the form of introducing concepts by video instruction and following up with a series of progression exercises and tests. Other digital innovations are simply tools that allow teachers to do the same age-old practices but in a digital format. Examples include blog entries instead of written journals and worksheets in online form. While these innovations may be an incremental improvement such that there is less cost, minor classroom efficiency and general modernisation, they do not, by themselves, change the pedagogical practice of the teachers or the schools." (Fullan M & Donnelly K, 2013, p25) Using and incorporating new technology tools won't be effective or relevant unless we change our practice alongside. We have to be intentional about how we teach Digital Literacies, and they have to be taught explicitly, as Mr, Marsden said we cannot rely on them being "Digital Natives". Students have to be taught the foundations of what it means to be a digital citizen, and how we need to operate and interact with technology is a safe and respectful manner. I look forward to incorporating pieces of this throughout the content we are already focused on with professional learning.
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Becky
2/27/2017 10:54:06 am
Karly,
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