Incorporating Digital Literacy into traditional cu...
Incorporating Digital Literacy into traditional curriculum
Submitted on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 10:11
This topic is increasingly relevant in my role as a Computer Training Coordinator for our county working with WinstonNet and our public library. We work within community computer lab sites in libraries, churches, recreation centers and specialized services, and for the past 4 years I have been trying to steer site supervisors into incorporating technology/computer skills in their current programming instead of viewing computer skills building as an entirely separate focus.
We have started updating our community labs with newer equipment (thanks to BTOP funding) and I think the concept of seeing it as a modern day package is sinking in. Our community lab which serves people with disabilities mentioned hiring staff with a technology background and incorporating their occupational therapy skills with computer skills. Finally! The lab which serves ex-offenders is now brainstorming ways to incorporate the computer lab with their reduced recidivism programming. And, I just trained an ESL instructor on using keyboarding skills to reinforce level 1 learning.
I'm always interested in hearing how programs are helping to use digital literacy in traditional programs...
I think it is important to think critically about what it is you use technology for and then apply that to your curriculum. For example if I were looking for a job I would be utilizing multiple word processing programs to find templates that I like, I would be visiting multiple websites to find resources regarding job search, I would be browsing job postings on multiple websites and I would be networking online in addition I would be using nontech based resources to perform that same actions.
Basically the most important thing about integrating DI into traditional curriculum is asking the question: how would I do this if I were in their position?
See www. Cybersmartcurriculum.org for non-sequential lesson plans that can be used in whole or in part, and are used in hundreds of thousands of schools worldwide.
This topic is increasingly relevant in my role as a Computer Training Coordinator for our county working with WinstonNet and our public library. We work within community computer lab sites in libraries, churches, recreation centers and specialized services, and for the past 4 years I have been trying to steer site supervisors into incorporating technology/computer skills in their current programming instead of viewing computer skills building as an entirely separate focus.
We have started updating our community labs with newer equipment (thanks to BTOP funding) and I think the concept of seeing it as a modern day package is sinking in. Our community lab which serves people with disabilities mentioned hiring staff with a technology background and incorporating their occupational therapy skills with computer skills. Finally! The lab which serves ex-offenders is now brainstorming ways to incorporate the computer lab with their reduced recidivism programming. And, I just trained an ESL instructor on using keyboarding skills to reinforce level 1 learning.
I'm always interested in hearing how programs are helping to use digital literacy in traditional programs...
I think it is important to think critically about what it is you use technology for and then apply that to your curriculum. For example if I were looking for a job I would be utilizing multiple word processing programs to find templates that I like, I would be visiting multiple websites to find resources regarding job search, I would be browsing job postings on multiple websites and I would be networking online in addition I would be using nontech based resources to perform that same actions.
Basically the most important thing about integrating DI into traditional curriculum is asking the question: how would I do this if I were in their position?
See www. Cybersmartcurriculum.org for non-sequential lesson plans that can be used in whole or in part, and are used in hundreds of thousands of schools worldwide.
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