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Digital Literacy at Grant

Page history last edited by Ginny Mason 12 years, 11 months ago

 

This website is a tool for launching digital literacy skills for Grant students.  Most of the pages are designed for student and staff use; this page is the exception--it is for you!.  Feel free to contact me or your child's teacher with questions.

 

Table of Contents 


 

Digital Literacy Skills

Grant has completed its current technology plan.  It identifies skills, methods and goals with the beginnings of an action plan. 

 

For each grade, we've refined a list of skills adopted in the 2007-2008 school year.  We will continue to refine, modify, extend and update our tech plan and skills as they reflect the combined commitment between parent financial support, district initiatives and teacher adoption and implementation.

 

The Petaluma City Schools District has adopted a new technology plan.

 

What Are Digital Literacy Skills?

....skills using computers and other electronics to learn.

 

And maybe what we should be asking for in our schools...

 

 

 

 

What Skills Are Introduced At Grant And When Are They Introduced?

You'll find a summary and detailed documents of all skills by grade on the Digital Skills Benchmark Continuum

 

What is the Digital Literacy Plan Timeline?

The use of the above skill set was introduced in November 2007.  Teachers believe it will take about 3 years before we have achieved all the skills for each grade. Additionally, we constantly modify the list based on the tools and time available to reach these goals.

 

What software do we use to teach these skills?

All skills are taught using general purpose software, particularly the Microsoft Office suite.  For Kindergarten and First Grade, we still use software specifically designed for this age group as "reading the screen" hasn't yet happened for the majority of students.  A list of software and what is used by each grade can be found on the Software Inventory page.

 

Why not use software designed for students use?

For elementary students, the process of learning is often more important than the results.  While software written for elementary children produces "better looking" projects, there are good reasons for selecting more readily available tools:

  • General purpose tools have a longer use life when computer equipment gets replaced (Grant has multiple shelves of children specific tools that don't work under XP.)
  • Children often have tools at home that are very similar to the general purpose tools thus allowing them the opportunity re-inforce the skills introduced at school. 
  • Parents have a better opportunity for assisting children with projects done at home on their computers using similar tools.

 

What Can I Do To Help Support My Child's Digital Learning?

First and foremost, students must learn that the computer is both a productivity tool and a creativity tool.  We often see students whose only experience is with games, even educational ones.  While these educational games have some value, their learning opportunities are often limited and set an expectation that the "reading" on the computer is not required.

 

Below are some introductory items to help educate your "digital" learner.  All skills are cumulative--meaning they must know the first level to often get to the next level.  As Grant continues to define and refine the skills necessary for success in the computer lab and on classroom equipment, this page and others will be updated.

 

Some home learning suggestions for all children at this age:

 

  • Website Use: Teach what a hyperlink is (does the cursor change when you are over it?), navigation (within a web page and using the toolbars, particularly the "home" button as the home page at school is set to this website and students are tought to "go home" when they become confused or when they need to change applications or refer to assignments.)
  • Tool Shape Recognition: How to recognize commonly used symbols (pictures and letters) on the computer
  • File System/Application Navigation: Show them how to tell which window is in "focus",  how to find their files, in a browser--scroll bar, scroll wheel, bookmarks, back, forward & home buttons, application tools if they are used frequently.)
  • Keyboard Awareness and Exploration: Teach them to type their first name and last name; Spacebar, Backspace, Delete and Enter keys in Word, Notepad or other Word Processing application.  Also teach them the difference between word wrapping at the end of the line and using Enter...also on Windows machines the all important ctrl-alt-delete key combination).
  • Login/Logout: Create a login for them and allow them to login (type a name or recognize a symbol or word); we have to do this at school.  School machines use a generic machine name, students beginning in 1st grade must login to applications by typing their first initial, followed by their last name, i.e., for John Doe, jdoe.
  • File Management: Teach them to save their files in a folder under "My Documents" or another location.
  • Printing: To save paper for the environment and to teach them that they can come back to work on projects, establish an "ask before you print" rule in your house.  Also teach them to look at all pages.  Do you really need to print them all?  Or just the "current page"?  This situation is particularly true of web pages.
  • Turn On/Off: Allow them to "Start" and "Shut Down/Turn Off" the computer properly rather than just pressing buttons. Teach them to turn-off monitors, printers and speakers as well.
  • Computer State: Teach them to recognize if the computer is on, asleep, off or in screensaver mode.
  • Keep Them Safe:  Work with them when they are on the internet.  See Internet Safety and Netetiquette below.

 

Looking for low cost, but great creative tools? Check out Other Resources section below...

 

Subject Pages

Subject links on a grade page or a specific teacher's page are mostly for exploration and for reference.  We use some of these during computer lab time, so your child may be familiar with one or more of them.  

 

Please feel free to explore any of these wonderful websites with your children.  You may bookmark them at home or bookmark this website and teach them to look and recognize the pictures and the names It is important that children associate text with a computer.  The vast majority of information is still in written form.  The quicker they realize the computer is a creative and productivity tool, the quicker it can be used to differentiate and expand their thinking rather than just entertain.  Better yet, they might find that learning is entertainment!

 

There are more links on specific subject pages.

 

Other Resources

Below are links to websites or other information for software, tools or informaiton about Digital Literacy.

 

Typing/Keyboarding

  • Typing - a web-page with lots of "online" activities and information about Keyboard Awareness for all grades.
  • Type 2 Learn - a similar version from the one we use at Grant can be found at: Scholastic Inc; $15 download - see Typing - Keyboarding Skills for Grade 3 and up
  • Dance Mat Typing - don't expect too much, but good for grades 2 to learn about keyboard awareness

 

Paint/Art

  • TuxPaint - open source; available on many platforms.  Extremely easy.  Can be tailored for pre-Kindergarteners as well.  Promotes good mouse coordination skills for the younger ones.
  • KidPix - Paint on steroids.  Lots to learn.  Appropriate for any age.

 

Word Processing/Documents

  • Microsoft Word (use about 10 functions)
  • Open Office - very good alternative to Microsoft Office.  Open source, free.  Mac & Windows.  Many think it is easier to use the Microsoft products.  (Word, Excel, PowerPoint alternatives along with a Draw--a program similar to Microsoft Visio (which we don't use at Grant).

 

Internet Safety and Netetiquette

Links

Links to Internet Safety Websites for Elementary Students (and their parents)

 

Think Before You Post

This video should be reviewed with your child.  Appropriate for any of your students where you give them an account that can post images...particularly appropriate for 6th graders.

 

Digital Literacy Skills Resources

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