What is Digital Fluency?

Week Seven: Digital Fluency

As part of growing up we are taught how to become fluent in language. We are taught the basics like being able to read and write where we can develop skills to be able to communicate and have conversations with others in everyday life. This is possible to do as we are constantly learning and developing new skills, knowledge and techniques to make connections and better understand the world in which we live. Whilst reading Teaching with ICT by Jenny Howell in regards to digital fluency, it became apparent that educators still need to provide opportunities for students to be successful in their learning.

‘Many of our policy documents mention the requirement for school and the education system as a whole to prepare individuals to be lifelong learners. (Howell, J. 2012 pg. 140)

But what does it mean to be digitally fluent? “Fluency’ derives from the word ‘flow’ and when we think about being ‘fluent’ in any context, it refers to being flexible, accurate, efficient, and appropriate.” (Karen Spencer, 2015) Just like when we are taught basic literacy skills we now need to transfer that knowledge into a digital world. This can be achieved by teaching students, the foundations of digital technology for example how to copy, cut and paste information into a word document, how to save work and re access it and how to use programs to there full potential.  After the scaffold has been put in place it allows the students to explore new programs with the basic knowledge they have been taught to work out how different programs work and how to extend on these foundation skills.

As teachers we need to make sure that we are allowing our students to have the opportunities to explore new programs while in the classroom, a space where they are free to ask questions, take calculated risks in a safe environment, work collaboratively with other students and explore on their own to cultivate their digital fluency

References:

Howell, J (2012) Teaching with ICT : Digital Pedagogies for Collaboration and Creativity  Retrieved from  http://ebookcentral.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/lib/curtin/detail.action?docID=1986003

Karen Spencer (2015) What is a digital fluency?. Retrieved from https://karenmelhuishspencer.com/2015/10/30/what-is-digital-fluency/ 

What is a Digital World?

Auditory Summary: Week One What is a Digital World

Please watch my presentation HERE

The following is the script to my PowToon presentation:

Today’s generation relies on the internet more than previous generations, mainly due to opportunities they have had growing up with technology. In recent times adults, adolescents and children have been using social media platforms such as Facebook, and text messaging to keep in contact with friends and family.

They are also using the internet to stay up to date with current affairs around the world through various media outlets, such as YouTube and Instagram.“More than 2.8 billion people connect to the digital world every single day to catch up on news, to see what’s going on with social media, to shop for products and for entertainment purposes (Colton James, 2016)”

Growing up in a digital world has had its impact on teaching and schooling for this generation. We are now considered digital learners; both teachers and students . We are all growing in knowledge and learning new techniques to develop our classrooms and we need to continue to provide opportunities for students to use skills they already possess and for new skills to emerge.

The 21^st century digital learner (Marc Prenskey, 2008) indicates that we need to allow our students to have a voice while in the classroom. Prenskey noted comments from a young man, “You think of technology as a tool. We think of it as a foundation – it’s at the basis of everything we do.”Students in our classrooms today have never lived in a world without digital technology so it’s important that they participate in designing their own learning and are heard. After all it is their education we are talking about.

I personally believe that teachers need to have an open mind towards new technologies as the world is evolving and new trends are always emerging. Growing up in a digital world myself, I have seen firsthand what the benefits can be, of using digital media platforms in everyday life for students and I feel I can relate to students of this generation

References:

Howell, J (2012) Teaching with ICT : Digital Pedagogies for Collaboration and Creativity  Retrieved from  http://ebookcentral.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/lib/curtin/detail.action?docID=1986003

Marc Prensky (2008) The 21st – Century Digital Learner. Retrieved from  https://www.edutopia.org/ikid-digital-learner-technology-2008

Colton James (2016) What is a digital world?. Retrieved from http://digitaltimefreedom.com/what-is-a-digital-world

Digital Identity and Security

Visual Summary: Week Two Digital Identity and Security

Please follow the link to explore the idea of digital identity and security:

http://prezi.com/j3bsuzagksin/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

References:

Howell, J (2012) Teaching with ICT : Digital Pedagogies for Collaboration and Creativity  Retrieved from  http://ebookcentral.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/lib/curtin/detail.action?docID=1986003

Marc Prensky (2001) Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Retrieved from https://edorigami.wikispaces.com/file/view/PRENSKY+-+DIGITAL+NATIVES+AND+IMMIGRANTS+1.PDF

Final Reflection

Every day the world is changing, it is growing and emerging and we are learning about new technology and different ways to teach this generation and the generations to come. This assessment has really opened my eyes to the different programs we can be using in the classroom to promote digital literacy and fluency.

During this assessment we have been asked to explore many different programs such as Blogging, Prezi, PowToon and many more. These, and other programs, show what kind of creative impact digital technology could have in the classroom. After completing the summaries, I was able to explore further the different uses of technology in the classroom and how different programs would suit different age groups.

Teaching with ICT (Howell, J) states “at this stage of their education, we could describe the students starting grade 4 as technology neophytes; they are beginners who have solid grounding of the basic and are ready for more complex learning experiences with technology “(pg. 33) This statement has a big impact on the way I look at technology in the classroom, I was completely unaware of what level of digital interaction the students should have and what stage the students should be at before the age 10. @TUAW tweeted (As cited in Wainwright, A 2016) ‘A research study, conducted in Auburn, Maine showed that Kindergarten students using iPads scored much higher on literacy tests than students that didn’t use the device’ 

Improving the digital technology we have in our classrooms will give the children opportunities to explore programs and allow them to gain more knowledge, skills and understanding of the digital world. I believe that digital fluency plays a big part in our lives today and will play an even bigger part in the future as technologies are ever changing. As teachers we need to continue to learn and keep up to date with the world around us so we can support our students learning.

References:

Howell, J (2012) Teaching with ICT : Digital Pedagogies for Collaboration and Creativity  Retrieved from  http://ebookcentral.proquest.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/lib/curtin/detail.action?docID=1986003

Ashley Wainwright. (2016) 8 Studies Show iPads in the Classroom Improve Education. Retrieved from. http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/8-Studies-Show-iPads-in-the-Classroom-Improve-Education