Digital Literacy Newsletter
By Shelby Allen
*This newsletter will pertain mostly to digital literacy skills appropriate for 2nd-grade students.*
Internet Safety
Internet safety is about having the fundamental skills needed to stay safe in an environment that easily connects people from all across the world. In many ways, this is a great tool for our students. It allows them to collaborate on projects not only with each other but also with students who have different perspectives and are living in different conditions. This clearly has the potential to open up education and change it for the better, but where there are advantages there are disadvantages, mainly: a decrease in internet safety.
According to the Louisiana Guide to Digital Literacy, a second-grade student should have already mastered the "ability to explain responsible uses of technology and digital information and describe possible consequences of inappropriate use." This means that the student should be able to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate websites and know the possible consequences of using the inappropriate sites. In the second grade we will reinforce the "ability to recognize and describe the potential risks associated with various forms of online communication." In the classroom, this will take form in discussions and activities about social media and the right and wrong ways to go about communicating with others in our vast digital world.
TIPS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS:
- Together, talk about the potential risks and dangers associated with various forms of online communications. (For example Social media, e-mail, blogs, etc.)
- Ensure that your child knows and understands what inappropriate behavior on the computer looks like and the possible consequences of inappropriate use.
- Review and follow the 5 internet safety tips when going online:
Relationships & Communication
Second graders, according to the Louisiana Guide to Digital Literacy, should have already mastered the ability "to turn on a computer and log in." The next step then is to help them master the ability to "explain and use age-appropriate online tools and resources." After finding which websites are appropriate for children (and how to spot them), my class will practice effective and positive communications between their classmates, myself, and other same-age students on the website. We will practice the different tones that should be used in different situations, and what a positive comment or constructive criticism looks like.
TIPS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS:
- Together, talk about what an appropriate online conversation looks like, and what it doesn't.
- Monitor your child's online conversations to ensure that they are appropriate.
- Introduce them to age-appropriate online forums where, under supervision, they can practice collaborating with other students.
Information Literacy
In the second grade, student's are still learning which websites to visit and how to stay safe on the internet, but they are also actively exploring it. In order for them to get a full and academically rich experience from their exploring, it is essential for them to learn how to distinguish real and accurate information from scams or ads. The Louisiana Guide to Digital Literacy suggests that second grade is the year to introduce evaluating "teacher- or self-selected Internet resources in terms of their usefulness for research." In the classroom, this will take form in the whole class evaluating "ad" sites from actual educational resources, and discussing how to recognize the differences between the two.
TIPS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS:
- Together, find and evaluate different websites and discuss their potential as sources for educational research.
- Practice distinguishing ads from informational sites. Identify the features that the ad websites use in order to sell their product.
- Practice using the alphabet to search for different research topics on a children's online directory.