Happy new year. Like all new years, it is a time of anticipation and new beginnings. Especially with all the technological changes that our students have at their fingertips. While they may be really comfortable at texting and bouncing from one interchange to another, there is a significant difference when using technologies for organized multiple purposes. Powerful research skills, understanding bias in published content, online communication and decision making all need practice to be proficient. Questions such as how do we teach internet safety, what happens to our digital footprint, how do we engage in dialogue on cyberbullying, what about copyright as we consume and create online, what about privacy, are all front and center in our lives. These topics can all fit under the larger umbrella of Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship.
Digital Citizenship might be described as the ability to integrate technologies to fully engage in an increasingly global and digital world. These skills or competencies reflect the need to analyze, learn and explore a world, that for the most part has not yet been conceived. A bit daunting, yet each topic area can be broken down. The key is to purposefully embed these into your everyday curriculum from early elementary upwards.
Over the next months and year, we will be actively delving into this area with practical ways that support the classroom. You can start by joining us at our District Pro-D on February 21th. Come and be a part of the developing journey as it unfolds. More information and registration will be in the District Pro-D calendar.