The Ministry of Education states that digital literacy is “the interest, attitude and ability of individuals to appropriately use digital technology and communication tools to access, manage, integrate, analyze and evaluate information, construct new knowledge, create and communicate with others” ("Digital literacy" n.d). The new BC Curriculum also states that “digital citizenship implies recognizing the impact that new media have on ourselves, others, and the world” with a focus on the “responsible and ethical use of the internet and other digital technologies to contribute to civil and social communities" ("Digital citizenship" 2020). In the ‘Digital Literacy Framework,’ the Ministry of Education outlines what digital literacy skills should be learned at which grades (“Digital Literacy” n.d).
Digital citizenship and digital literacy are so important to teach to students of all ages. I believe that by teaching some aspects, such as digital health and basic digital safety, to younger grades and teach other topics such as digital etiquette and digital privacy to older grades will give students an opportunity to build on their digital citizenship and digital literacy knowledge throughout school.
digital literacy and the BC Curriculum
In the New BC Curriculum digital citizenship and digital literacy fits into the Curricular Competency areas of Applied Skills and Applied Technologies in ADST. Digital citizenship and digital literacy also appear in the ADST Content area for gr 6-7 and in grade 8 onwards . Digital Citizenship lessons also cover some core competency areas of the New BC Curriculum as well. Particularly ‘Social Awareness and Responsibility’ and ‘Critical and Reflective Thinking.’
As digital technology lessons are all about the safety and responsible use of technology it is very important that students use technology during their lessons. However, some aspects of digital citizenship are easier to understand in paper format as the concept of how vast and interconnected technology can be hard for students to grasp. I would imagine using a combination of hands-on paper-based activities and games as well as interactive websites to teach about digital citizenship.
Learning literacies is not a linear journey (Belshaw n.d). We do not just learn the basic steps, move to intermediate and then become advanced before being experts. The linear process is like loading an image pixel by pixel in straight lines, such as how old images were loaded during dial up days. It is sequential. Digital literacies load more like a pixelated image - it starts off blurry but as more information is loaded (learned) the image becomes more clearer over time. “Digital literacy is part of your identity. Every time you are given a new tool it gives you a different way of impacting upon the world” (Belshaw n.d). It is a lifelong journey and not something with an end goal.
What are the different digital literacies?
With the help of a group of top BC Educational leaders, they created 6 literacies that they feel are important for students to learn in our digital age.
Visit the BC Ministry of Education page to see the full framework document:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/resources-for-teachers/digital-literacy
Visit the UBC Scarfe Sandbox page to view a video that explains the BC Digital Literacy Framework in more detail:
https://scarfedigitalsandbox.teach.educ.ubc.ca/
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/resources-for-teachers/digital-literacy
Visit the UBC Scarfe Sandbox page to view a video that explains the BC Digital Literacy Framework in more detail:
https://scarfedigitalsandbox.teach.educ.ubc.ca/
Programs with lesson plans to teach digital literacies
" Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century” (Common Sense Media). They have created free lesson plans and activities for parents and educators to help teach the important skills needed for students to be successful in the 21st century.
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Brain Pop contains many easy to understand videos about topics. Some of the features are free and some must be paid for. Our district does not have a paid account at this time.
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The BC Ministry of Education Digital Literacy Framework. This breaks down the steps to learning digital literacy into managemable steps for each grade.
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websites with hands-on activities to teach digital literacies
Sites that I have found so far with ideas for hands on lessons are:
https://safesitter.org/digital-citizenship/
https://agpartseducation.com/9-elements-of-digital-citizenship/
https://www.cyberwise.org/digital-citizenship-resources
https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
https://www.edutopia.org/article/digital-citizenship-resources
These websites have online activities that students can complete to learn more about digital citizenship and digital literacy.
https://surreyschoolsone.ca/students/student-activities/digital-superheroes/
https://surreyschoolsone.ca/students/student-activities/ninja-breakout/
https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/educators
https://safesitter.org/digital-citizenship/
https://agpartseducation.com/9-elements-of-digital-citizenship/
https://www.cyberwise.org/digital-citizenship-resources
https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
https://www.edutopia.org/article/digital-citizenship-resources
These websites have online activities that students can complete to learn more about digital citizenship and digital literacy.
https://surreyschoolsone.ca/students/student-activities/digital-superheroes/
https://surreyschoolsone.ca/students/student-activities/ninja-breakout/
https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/educators
References
"ADST." BC's New Curriculum. Province of British Columbia. 2020. https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/adst
Belshaw, Doug. (n.d). The essential elements of digital literacies. TedxWarwick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yQPoTcZ78
Burton, L., Summers, J. and Lawrence, J., 2013. Developing DART: A Digital Learning Tool to Facilitate Equity and Access in the Contemporary Higher Education Context. Conference Paper. University of Southern Queensland.
Common Sense Media. Common Sense Education. https://www.commonsense.org/education/
“Core Competencies.” BC's New Curriculum. Province of British Columbia. 2020. https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/competencies
“Digital Citizenship.” BC's New Curriculum. Province of British Columbia. 2020. https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/search?combine=digital+citizenship
"Digital Literacy." Digital Literacy Framework. Province of British Columbia. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/resources-for-teachers/digital-literacy
Jones, R. H., & Hafner, C. A. (2012). Understanding digital literacies: A practical introduction [1st edition.]. doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203095317
MediaSmarts. (May 2018). Introduction to digital literacy: Digital literacy 101. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o96ey4jCgE .
Surrey Schools One: One place for all your resources. Surrey Schools. 2021. https://surreyschoolsone.ca/
"ADST." BC's New Curriculum. Province of British Columbia. 2020. https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/adst
Belshaw, Doug. (n.d). The essential elements of digital literacies. TedxWarwick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yQPoTcZ78
Burton, L., Summers, J. and Lawrence, J., 2013. Developing DART: A Digital Learning Tool to Facilitate Equity and Access in the Contemporary Higher Education Context. Conference Paper. University of Southern Queensland.
Common Sense Media. Common Sense Education. https://www.commonsense.org/education/
“Core Competencies.” BC's New Curriculum. Province of British Columbia. 2020. https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/competencies
“Digital Citizenship.” BC's New Curriculum. Province of British Columbia. 2020. https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/search?combine=digital+citizenship
"Digital Literacy." Digital Literacy Framework. Province of British Columbia. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/teach/resources-for-teachers/digital-literacy
Jones, R. H., & Hafner, C. A. (2012). Understanding digital literacies: A practical introduction [1st edition.]. doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203095317
MediaSmarts. (May 2018). Introduction to digital literacy: Digital literacy 101. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o96ey4jCgE .
Surrey Schools One: One place for all your resources. Surrey Schools. 2021. https://surreyschoolsone.ca/