Category Archives: Future Vision Project

Inquiry Blog Post #9: Future Vision Project

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The Process

First I clarified my objective and audience: to create a resource site for educators providing the necessary tools to teach digital literacy either as an independent class or synthsizeas an interdisciplinary addition to other curriculum. Since finishing my Masters in digital literacy and creating a Digital Literacy 12 BAA course, I have received numerous requests to share my fledgling resources. Simultaneously, I myself have been scouring the web and connecting with colleagues as I embarked on teaching Digital Literacy 12 for the first time. I thought it would be helpful to my colleagues (and myself) to create a resource site for educators devoted to digital literacy.

Next I brainstormed the possible components of such a site and asked for feedback from my colleagues (i.e. target audience). The main feedback I received was that I was trying to do too much so I trimmed my original design accordingly.

Now I needed to choose a technological platform for my resource site. As mentioned previously, I decided on a WordPress blog site due to my familiarity with the product and the wide spread use of WordPress across the web. Users are unconsciously familiar with the visuals and layout of WordPress.

Finally, I created my resource site. However, it is far from complete. Specifically, I still need to complete the connection between digital literacy and traditional literacy, new literacies and information literacy. In addition, I need to develop an organizational approach to how I will structure my “Tools” and “Sample Resources” so that I can indefinitely add addition resources. Finally, I need to continue adding post with lesson ideas, emerging research and interesting resources.

learnWhat I Have Learned

I have learned that, as usual, I tend to over reach. However, as this meant to be an actual useable product, I am content knowing that I can settle into developing this site. I’ll get there!

The main progress I have made throughout this course revolves around inquiry. It was a pleasure to partake in a well-designed professional inquiry learning experience. I need to experience things to truly understand them and, by experience my own inquiry project, I feel my understanding of inquiry as a learning process has deepened. As well, I have a better grasp on the logistics of structuring inquiry.

This assignment has helped me synthesize the work I have done around digital literacy. It has allowed me to consider the research from my Masters, my experience from teaching digital literacy as a course twice this year and my conversation with colleagues around digital literacy. I’m excited to continue this journal by developing this resource site over the years.

Future Vision Project:

http://digitalliteracy.co/

Inquiry Blog 8: Technological Considerations

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I have chosen to use WordPress as my platform as it is user friendly and a widely used platform most web users are familiar with (consciously or unconsciously). At this point, I am using the free blog option although I did buy the domain: digitallietracy.co. This platform also allows multimodal resources to be shared which is essential (e.g. video, picture, links, Word, PDF, etc.).

A main strategy is to create a ‘rabbit hole’ user opportunity. I want people to be able to go as deep as they wish to do but also be able to access bit size pieces of information as well according to their time and need. For example, when defining digital literacy, you can click on the “Definition” page (drops down under “Background” page at the top) for my final short definition. If you would like to know more about other definitions and how I developed my definition, you can browse the ajoining pages which are organized by topic.

My greatest struggles and challenges I have run into so far center around one main challengeissue: I bit off a very ambitious project which will take time to fully manifest. Although I can create the infrastructure and add a great deal of the content, my vision will take me the next month to realize (at least).

One crucial area will be the organization of resources under “Sample Lessons” and “Tools.” I need to think this through before I add too many items. For this, I will have some of my more aesthetic colleagues to look it over and advise me one a design approach. As well, I would be grateful for any feedback from our class as well.

Finally, my idea of posting lesson ideas in sync with trending events will take time to realize as well. Time, time, time! Frustrating for an impatient person …

Inquiry Blog 7: Future Vision Project Learner Consideration

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Defining Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is defined as the ability to interact critically, creatively and ethically with multimodal text, tools and people in digital contexts. Consequently, the digital literacy competencies fall into four groups: Citizenship, Create, Consume and Use.

Digital Literacy Competenciescompetencies

Citizenship: Understanding rights and responsibilities.

Create: Creating and communicating with digital tools.

Consume: Critically understanding and using digital content.

Use:  Accessing and using digital software and hardware.

Rationale for Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is necessary for students to become positive and productive digital citizens. In the 21st century, students need to master skills essential to being a lifelong learner such as how to access, manage, integrate, analyze and evaluate information, construct new knowledge, create and communicate with others.

Rationale for an Educators’ Resource Website on Digital Literacy

Educators are busy professionals that need a user friendly one stop shop that answers what digital literacy is and offers meaningful methods and examples of how to integrate it into and across various disciplines. As digital literacy is still a new term, it is often loosely and inaccurately used to cover a variety of items. This website will offer a synthesized and simplified definition based on international and national research that is both teacher and student friendly. I will provide access to this research as well as how digital literacy connects to traditional, information and new literacies for those wishing to dig deeper. In addition, clear learning outcomes, assessment tools, sample lessons and sample student work will help educators better envision what digital literacy is and how to adapt it to their contexts. So often we just want to ‘see’ what it looks like!

A main concern when venturing into this field is privacy and copyright. I hope to clearly outline what teachers need to be aware of and offer suggestions and examples of how to navigate these concerns while turning them into learning opportunities for everyone.

Finally, I hope to offer ideas for digital literacy learning opportunities using relevant current events and a wide range of multimedia. I plan to post these ideas weekly during the remaining three months to help inspire ideas of how to incorporate digital literacy in a meaningful and relevant way.  For example, the recent Westjet passenger who criticized his pilot for being female prompted a lesson on gender stereotypes in our society. Combined with the controversial Ashton martin ad (which being a fake offers another avenue for exploration!) and the amusing Ellen Degeneres satire of a Bic Pens for Ladies commercial, this made for a rich conversation and investigation into the role technology can play in both reinforcing and challenging gender stereotypes.

Inquiry Blog 6: Future Vision Design Considerations

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My vision is to create a resource site for educators on digital literacy. Digital literacy is a passion for me and consequently was my focus for my Masters last year. I created a Digital Literacy 12 BAA course for my Masters’ project and have had the opportunity to teach the course twice this year. This was timely as my district is beginning to explore digital literacy on a broader scale next year and I was to be a key support through my role as a district curriculum coordinator. However, as I will be on maternity leave next year I am leaving at a time when my fledgling knowledge around digital literacy is needed. As a result, I have decided to create an Educator’s Resource Website where I can offer what I have learned about digital literacy over the last 3 years. My target audience will be teachers and teacher librarians so my main goal will be to make the website user friendly with practical resources and examples that might be useful for busy professionals looking to integrate digital literacy into their practice. I’ve created the below mind map of potential items to include on the website and I would be grateful for any feedback. What would you find useful on this website if you were looking to learn more about digital literacy?

digiatl_literacy_website_mindmapCreated using Total Recall app on my iPad.