They text. They post. But can they use technology to learn? Laurie Kirkland | Technology Integration Program Specialist, Kent School District Allison Stotler | Territory Manager, Learning.com

Agenda What are digital literacy skills? Current research around digital literacy skills, in grades K-12 How Kent School District is addressing the need for integrating 21st Century Skills into core content Questions

11 Essential Digital Literacy Skills

Defining 21st Century Skills

Digital Literacy is implicit & explicit in Common Core nology

How the digital skills gap is killing productivity and what you can do about it “ Productivity growth is the most important ingredient for raising living standards in rich and poor countries alike. If overall productivity growth disappears in the years ahead it will dash hopes that rich countries can improve their population’s living standards. ” - The Financial Times: Productivity crisis haunts global economy (Jan 14, 2014)

Our “digital natives” have huge skill gaps

Skill gaps in digital natives Despite how connected most students are, many struggle with the digital skills necessary to learn new ideas from the Internet, conduct research, or prepare for a career. A study from University of Connecticut currently under peer review found that just 4% of 13-year-olds could identify whether a website was credible; most couldn't identify the author, the author's credentials, or potential bias. A separate study from the University of Connecticut found that less than 8% of 13-year-olds could send a proper , including a subject line, greetings, or a clear message.

Kids can tweet, but many lack digital literacy skills. “They’re sophisticated with texting, with social networking, with video – YouTube especially – and with gaming,” said Donald Leu, director of The New Literacies Lab at the University of Connecticut. “But where they are woefully, dreadfully, inadequately prepared is with reading online information and using it to learn new ideas.”

Why Teach Digital Literacy? Digital Literacy is embedded into current standards: Common Core, NGSS Common Core and ISTE standards require critical thinking skills Digital Literacy is required to succeed on computer based assessments Our “digital natives” have huge skill gaps Online safety & information fluency are critical

Comprehensive, online K-8 digital literacy curriculum Prepares students for online assessments, college, career and the workplace Integrates technology into core instruction Includes full Online Safety curriculum that exceeds requirements for E-Rate Built-in pre-tests assess skills and auto-assign self-paced lessons to address gaps Content available in English and Spanish EasyTech

Poll Question time: Think time: Do all your district stakeholders have the same common understanding of the meaning of digital literacy skills? Yes No response.smarttech.com

Digital Citizenship and Information Literacy

Did you know??

Talking Points History and background of KSD’s journey Adoption of curriculum Professional Development for teachers Information Literacy Scope and Sequence Keyboarding Next Steps

A Little History Digital Citizenship Curriculum Team Adopt a K-12 curriculum Standardized lessons Parent training Anti-Bullying Task Force Tracking system Adopt a comprehensive Safety and Anti- Bullying Curriculum Communication plan to district and parents Joint Task Force Overlap between two projects Coordinated resource review Standard lesson template Shared distribution Parent components

Digital Citizenship Adoption Established program requirements and evaluation rubric Research and Evaluation of Resources Field-tested lessons Adopted Common Sense Media SMART Notebook Lessons Professional Development

Digital Citizenship Scope and Sequence Strands Safety Security Digital Life Privacy and Digital Footprints Connected Culture Self-Expression and Identity

Lesson Components Lesson Teacher Notes Essential Questions, Lesson Objectives and Success Criteria Key Vocabulary Activities Attachments Formative Assessment Parent Resources

When are lessons taught in schools? Customizable by schools Recommendation – to have done before November 1

Professional Development First year was delivered by principals Sustainable PD for new staff –Staff go to CSM link that is provided and follow the instructions on the site –Receive a certificate upon completion

Information Literacy ~ the Spin-Off Librarians started their own Information Literacy Scope and Sequence Used same template as the Digital Citizenship curriculum Curriculum for librarians K-12

Strands Media Literacy Searching Research and Evaluation skills Note Taking Strategies Respecting Creative Work Literacy Support Technology Integration

What’s the Urgency for Teaching Keyboarding… My Kids can Text? Keyboarding speed and fluency is essential for online testing Technology should not be a barrier for accessing student learning Touch typing allows us to write without thinking about how we are writing, freeing us to focus on what we are writing, on our ideas Being able to type fast without looking at the keyboard is a 21 st century basic skill

Keyboarding Adoption Followed the same strict process as our Digital Literacy Established program requirements and evaluation rubric Research and Evaluation of Resources Field-tested lessons Typing Instructor for Kids (grades 2-3) Easy Tech (grades 4 – 6) Implementation Guidelines Professional Development

Next Steps.. We know we have holes in our curriculum that we need to address now that we will be One-to-One K-12 More emphasis in K-6 Digital Literacy and Citizenship – increase lessons Looking at a variety of curriculum options that we can adapt to fit our model Continuing communication to leadership the importance of providing time for these programs in the school day –Learning.com –21things4students (and 21things4teachers) –Common Sense Media

Poll question time…

Questions?