Tag Archives: digital literacy

477 Future Vision Blog Post

Help teachers develop their ICT by curating a list of digital tools that can be used for remote teaching or in-class teaching.

To develop the teacher’s ICT I have decided to curate a list of digital tools with videos that would hopefully be very useful to the community of teachers in my current school division. The goal of this project is to improve my fellow colleague’s ICT by offering them the information they need to access and use the tools that have been provided to them. The artifact offers the teachers the resources and information they need to integrate the use of divisional tech-tools during remote and in-class teaching. The focus of this project would be to create a list of tech tools offered by my current school division and to provide an overview video demonstrating some of the features of the tech tool.

This resource would be very useful to the teachers based on what I have observed. When collaborating with teachers to complete special projects, I offer my ideas and support and recommend a great technology tool to accompany the project. I am usually met with positivity but often the teachers express that they don’t know how to use the tool, that they don’t know where to find the tool or that they didn’t know that we had access to it. I think it is important to address their concerns. My artifact will help the teachers to gain confidence in the use of technology and offer the students new and engaging ways to learn. My current school division offers an impressive list of subscriptions to various tech tools and I want the teachers to be able to take advantage of them.

My project will explore most of the following technology tools:

-NetTrekker

-Mathletics

-Raz-Kids (Leading A-Z)

-World Book

-Visual Thesaurus

-Tumblebooks

-Encyclopedia Universalis Jr.

My project artifact will be geared for teachers but will benefit both teachers and students. The article written by Janelle Cox, Benefits of Technology in the Classroom highlights how integrating technology into the curriculum benefits the student by allowing them to connect with experts, deepens the learning process, and take responsibility for their learning. It states that the use of technology in schools is a necessity for students to acquire 21st-century technology skills and that it may affect student achievement. The use of technology promotes higher-order thinking and problem-solving skill. (Cox, 2019)

Not only will my artifact help the teachers to build their ICT and knowledge of using technology tools in the classroom, but it will offer the students the opportunity to acquire 21st-century digital literacy skills.

“Benefits of Technology in the Classroom.” TeachHUB, 25 June 2020, www.teachhub.com/technology-in-the-classroom/2019/11/benefits-of-technology-in-the-classroom/.

“What Are the Emerging Technologies in the Classroom?” TeachHUB, 17 Aug. 2020, www.teachhub.com/technology-in-the-classroom/2019/10/what-are-the-emerging-technologies-in-the-classroom/.

“How Technology Can Increase Student Engagement.” TeachHUB, 17 Aug. 2020, www.teachhub.com/technology-in-the-classroom/2019/08/how-technology-can-increase-student-engagement/.

10, et al. “Why Teachers Should Embrace Technology in Their Classrooms.” The Edvocate, 8 Oct. 2016, www.theedadvocate.org/why-teachers-should-embrace-technology-in-their-classrooms/.

“20 Digital Tools for Classroom for Innovative Teachers & Students.” GraphicMama Blog, 5 May 2020, graphicmama.com/blog/digital-tools-for-classroom/.

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477 – Future Vision Blog Post #1 Design Consideration

For my future vision project, I am considering three options. Each idea relates to the topics explored throughout this course. All three ideas would serve as professional development for the teachers and they would be a great resource for the school community. My ideas would help the teachers and students in my school to grow their abilities and knowledge in digital literacy, to develop a love of reading, and learn to use technology tools for in-class or remote teaching.

Image by Pixabay

Idea #1 Providing information and resources to the school community to help grow digital literacy, specifically research skills.

This project would focus on creating a professional development session using Microsoft Sway and presented using Screencast-o-Matic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcg6DGO9hpI

video by Microsoft

The content would focus on digital literacy in the 21st century, the provincial standards and outcomes for research skills, research skills framework, and strategies and activities to teach effective research. My goal is to create a professional development session that serves to teach digital literacy to teachers and the important role it plays for the future of our students. I would introduce and explore research skills such as search bar strategies, reliability of the information, and forming meaningful questions, etc. Although this is a meaningful topic to explore, what concerns me in the preparation of this professional development presentation is the sheer magnitude and scope of information around digital literacy and research skills. I would need to narrow down the focus of information for the presentation without leaving out the important aspects that provide a global understanding of digital literacy. Using Screencast-o-Matic also concerns me. I do not have experience using voice-over software.

Image by Pixabay

Idea #2 Create a two-year strategic plan to foster a culture of reading throughout the school.

For this project, I would create a list of ideas on how to create a culture of reading within my school. The plan would contain a timeline and I would describe each idea with a step-by-step plan for its implementation. The ideas that I want to implement would be directly linked to the needs of the students and teachers. The purpose of this plan is to bring about change and implement regular activities and events that would benefit the school community and create a culture and love of reading throughout the school. I had difficulty finding a unique way to present this topic. I thought of creating a series of short news broadcast videos explaining the idea and inviting students and teachers to participate. I would send out the videos once a month to the teachers. Using Prezi, Powtoon Animated Video or IMovie came to mind. This project idea would include news broadcast videos.

Image by Pixabay

Idea #3 Help teachers develop their ICT by curating a list of digital tools that can be used for remote teaching or in-class teaching.

Considering that the province of Manitoba is currently at level red, with the possibility of remote teaching on our minds, I think that a curated list of digital tools would be very useful to the community of teachers in my current school division. This project could be shared with not only the teachers in my school but with teachers throughout the school division. The goal of this project is to improve my fellow colleague’s ICT by offering them the information they need to access and use the tools that have been provided to them. The focus of this project would be to create a list of tech tools offered by my current school division, to provide an overview of each tool and how it can be used.  I would also include a list of other resources that could be useful for remote teaching or in-class teaching about Virtual Tours, Global Read-Aloud just to name a few. Once again, the idea of doing a voiceover presentation comes to mind. I could provide the teachers with a document including an overview of the tool and a quick video demonstrating some of the features of the tech tool.

Image by Pixabay

Although each of my ideas will take time to develop, I think that there is a need for all of them within my school and school division. The teachers and students would benefit greatly from each idea.

Idea #1 offers the teachers resources to teach research skills and the students the skills they need for 21st-century learning.

Idea #2 offers the teachers and students the opportunity to develop a love of reading.

Idea #3 offers the teachers the resources and information they need to be successful during remote and in-class teaching using tech tools providing the students with unique and engaging ways to learn.

Choosing just one to explore is a difficult task. I have a lot of thinking to do! I am also concerned about choosing a presentation tool that I feel comfortable using. I will take the time needed to explore the various presentation tools and hopefully, I will grow my confidence.

 

The Global Read Aloud, theglobalreadaloud.com/.

Nisha. “Manitoba’s Best Virtual Tours You’ll Want to Try from Home.” Travel Manitoba, Canada – Start Planning Your Trip Here, 100s of Great Ideas and Experiences, Manitoba, 19 May 2020, www.travelmanitoba.com/blog/post/manitobas-best-virtual-tours-youll-want-to-try-from-home/.

“20 Digital Tools for Classroom for Innovative Teachers & Students.” GraphicMama Blog, 5 May 2020, graphicmama.com/blog/digital-tools-for-classroom/.

Starke, Kathryn. “Developing a Love of Reading in Students.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 31 Jan. 2020, www.edutopia.org/article/developing-love-reading-students.

Youtube video, How to Use Powtoon Free, https://youtu.be/lEQiZQi-aGY
Youtube video, The Beginner’s Guide to Imovie, https://youtu.be/nV_1eCZ360M

Unesdoc.unesco.org, unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000257933.

Williams, Addie. “Tips for Teaching Research Skills.” The Secondary English Coffee Shop, 1 Jan. 1970, secondaryenglishcoffeeshop.blogspot.com/2019/11/tips-for-teaching-research-skills.html.

“Digital Literacy Fundamentals.” MediaSmarts, 20 Feb. 2019, mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/digital-literacy-fundamentals.

“Home.” 21st Century Learning International, 20 Mar. 2020, www.21c-learning.com/.

“Welcome to Screencast-O-Matic: Screencast-O-Matic.” Screencast, screencast-o-matic.com/tutorial/welcome-to-screencast-o-matic.

Youtube video, What is SWAY? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcg6DGO9hpI

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