21st Century Skills and Digital Citizenship

I enjoy using technology for personal use and in the classroom. I know my students enjoy using technology as well. The key with technology is to be open minded, take the time to explore the technology and ask for help if you don’t know how to use it.

There are endless ways to use technology in the classroom visit toptools4learning.com; here you will find a list of 200 Top Tools for Learning 2019. The list in incredible and I know of and have utilized many of these in my classroom over the years. I would not have learned about these tools if I was not open minded and eager to integrate new tech into the classroom.

As a future educational leader I am responsible for teaching my students 21^st century skills in a 21^st century school. Schrum & Levin (2015), state that 21^st century skills “include critical thinking, and problem solving, creativity and innovation, and communication and collaboration” (p.36). I know teachers can utilize technology to ensure students strengthen these skills.

Google Suite has been a game changer for me in my classroom. I use Google Classroom to facilitate assignments, quizzes, projects and grades. Every student has access to Google Classroom through a computer at school or at home. Through the Google Suite I am able to integrate Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Forms into Google Classroom activities. My students complete writing assignments using Google Docs, and collaborate on Google Slides presentations with classmates. I even utilized Google Forms to conduct pre-assessments and post-assessments.

These tools have been around for over 5 years. I had to learn to utilize Google Suite through self-exploration and through available district training. It has been my responsibility to ensure my students are prepared for 21^st century jobs. By being open minded and exploring the technology available I can stay up-to-date. Keeping myself updated on today’s technology will ensure my students are receiving the skills to succeed tomorrow.

I must also create students who are good digital citizens. Schrum & Levin (2015), state that there are “eight important topics: Internet safety, privacy and security, relationships and communication, cyber bullying, digital footprint and reputation, self-image and identity, information literacy, and creative credit and copy right” (p.82). All of these topics could be easily integrated into any schools district’s curriculum with age appropriate lessons K-12 in every subject. 

The biggest piece is either writing the curriculum, adapting free online curriculum or purchasing curriculum to integrate into every grade level in every class. Every student can learn to be a good digital citizens. Schrum & Levin (2015), state that “by being knowledgeable about and staying up-to-date on laws and policies and developing and delivering a digital citizenship curriculum, you will feel safe and secure about your teachers and students” (p.86).

Check out this YouTube video! Click on the link below:

Make Digital Citizenship about the Do's, not the Don'ts ISTE

References:

Schrum, L. & Levin B.B. (2015). Leading 21^st Century Schools: Harnessing technology for engagement and achievement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.