Digital Literacy

Grade-Level Group 3

Group Members:

Sara
[email protected]

Matt Sheehan
[email protected]
Can each of you put your email so we can pick a time to discuss
this activity this week? Thanks!

Brandy
[email protected]

To complete this group exercise, you will need to view the Digital Literacy videos linked on
Moodle. There are 4 steps in the Digital Literacy model that you will be thinking about this
semester. ​(*Please note that this model was formerly called “Critical Information Literacy” but it was changed to
“Digital Literacy.” The videos use the former term. I plan to re-create these soon!)

Respond to the following questions individually:

1. Can your students get through Step 2?
○
2. Do you expect them to know Step 2 already?
○
3. What might you need to teach them before they can handle Step 2 ?
○
4. Write a brief idea for a lesson that might help them get through Step 2.
○

Sara
Can your students get through Step 2?
○ No, my students cannot do this step. The nature of their disabilities really
prevents them from navigating the higher level thinking skills required in
analyzing information. Often time research is done with an assigned adult or a
typical peer and information has already been found.
Do you expect them to know Step 2 already?
○ No.
What might you need to teach them before they can handle Step 2 ?
○ Modeling, explicit instruction in fact v. Opinion, provide two choices and help the
students choose the correct information.
Write a brief idea for a lesson that might help them get through Step 2.
○ Use a “This or That” activity aligned with the 5W checklist with a fact that has
previously been verified and an opinion and highlight vocabulary that would
signal which fact is true.

Matt
Can your students get through Step 2?
○ Not independently. They won’t take the time to research further to see if the
information they found is true. They think that if the teacher assigned it, it’s true.
Do you expect them to know Step 2 already?
○ No.
What might you need to teach them before they can handle Step 2 ?
○ Discussions and modeling. Showing them examples of how to get through 5 W’s
checklist.
Write a brief idea for a lesson that might help them get through Step 2.
○ I would give students a copy of the 5W checklist in order for them to explore a
website. I would model the 5 W checklist beforehand. Students will then be
given a website to explore using the checklist as a guide.

Brandy
Can your students get through Step 2?
 ○ No, not independently. My students have significant cognitive disabilities. Any
type of assignment must be modified for them. We just work 1:1 because some
of my friends are non readers while others can read, but they can not
comprehend any of it. I rely on on the expertise of myself and my staff in order
to locate safe and reliable websites.
Do you expect them to know Step 2 already?
○ No I don’t expect them them to know. I do however expect them to be able to
use technology safely before they get to me. For example, clicking/dragging,
turning the computer/iPad on or off ect.
What might you need to teach them before they can handle Step 2 ?
○ I would need to model and give them some background knowledge.

Write a brief idea for a lesson that might help them get through Step 2.
○ I would create a simple visual checklist (5 W’s) of items to look for on a website.
I would model with them on several different sites and have them tell me if the
website is good enough to use for research.

Brainstorm these ideas together as a group

1. Think about what students at your grade level can be expected to know about digital
literacy. List at least three things
a. Keeping personal information private
b. Accessing and using online databases
c. Staying on the correct page
d. Appropriate usage (being on allowed websites)

2. Brainstorm age-appropriate topics to explore, possibly in the format of the activity from
the ​I Read It on the Computer​ article to help your students learn about digital literacy
a. The 13 Colonies
b. Animals
c. Solar System
 3. Choose ​ONE​ topic and look for websites that you could use for an activity/lesson.
-->Solar System
4. Write a paragraph about the topic that was selected. Explain how this would help
increase your students’ digital literacy. Include a list of websites that provide a variety of
perspectives on the topic. ​Post this paragraph and list of sites to the Digital Literacy
Scope and Sequence Discussion Forum. ​(Only one person needs to post for the group.)

We chose a research lesson on the solar system because we are all intermediate grade level
teachers and the topic is a science requirement. The planets and the solar system are
interesting topics and our students, even at varying cognitive levels, find the topic to be
engaging. Students will need to be sure the information they research is accurate and up to
date. Students will need to navigate video clips in order to isolate relevant and important
information. Videos often contain more information that might be necessary and students will
need to sort through what is shown. Students will need to develop the ability to take
information they see in a video and record it in a note sheet format.

a. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/solarsystem/indepth​.
b. https://jr.brainpop.com/science/space/solarsystem/​.
c. ​https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/
d. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKKzIoJgMSQ
e. http://pbskids.org/learn/readyjetgo/​.
f. https://www.pebblego.com/modules/2/categories/2962

WEEK of 11/13- Respond to the following questions:

1. What can/should your students know about digital literacy at your grade level? (This may include
multiple elements).

Sara:

● Why keeping personal information private is important

● How to login to their devices

Matt:

● How to remember/keep track of their usernames and passwords. There are so many to
remember.
● How to use age appropriate search engines.

Brandy:

● How to login (username/password)

● Using appropriate websites

2. How can you help your students achieve this?

Sara

● Practice logging into their devices on multiple occasion

● Watch videos on digital privacy

Matt:

● Give students paint cards with the different color boxes to write down usernames and
passwords. Each color is a different tool.
● Have students try out different types of search engines. (Bing, Yahoo, Google)

Brandy:

● Using information cards

● Using lists/pictures of appropriate websites

3. Describe at least three sample activities/lessons to help your students learn age-appropriate
digital literacy skills. ​Include​ the activity/lesson that you posted last week. ​Include​ at least one idea
from Common Sense Media.

Sara
 1. Brainpop Jr Internet Safety video with accompanying activity
https://jr.brainpop.com/artsandtechnology/technology/internetsafety/
2. Safe or Unsafe Sort ​https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6333255707038906/
3. Digital Footprints coloring/sorting activity
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/A7yd3wAQAC8AdqJe2NIXB2s/

Matt:

1. Internet Search Engine Practice

​https://www.pinterest.com/pin/177610779026058395/

2. Username and Password Storage:

​https://www.pinterest.com/pin/145663369168409708/

3. The Key to Keywords

https://www.commonsense.org/education/system/files/uploads/classroom-curriculum/3-5-unit1-theke
ytokeywords.pdf?x=1

Brandy:

1. Going Places Safely

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/lesson/going-places-safely-k-2

2. Internet Safety Contract

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/384846730629719240/

3. Internet Safety

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/194921490097410696/