I recently wrote this blog post for Manson Northwest Webster's Professional Learning Network class. You can follow this class on Twitter at #mnwpln and the blog at MNWPLN.

Digital Literacy

When I was growing up, the word literacy was strictly associated with reading. Being literate meant you were able to read.  Now when we combine the word “digital” with the word “literacy”, it has a much bigger meaning. Here are three points that help describe what being digitally literate means to me.  These points are actually nothing new and really get to the heart of digital literacy for everyone.  The italicized words in each bullet point are ones that I believe are crucial to the meaning of Digital Literacy. So, it’s about doing as well as knowing.

Digital Literacy is:

• the ability to use technology, communication devices or networks to locate, evaluate, use and create information. 
• the ability to understand and use information in multiple formats from a wide range of sources that are presented using the web. 
• the ability to perform tasks effectively in a digital environment.

The way I do my job has changed dramatically over the last ten years.  I have learned how to become digitally literate in the context of my work and many times in a “sink or swim” situation.  I have learned many skills I need to navigate technology devices and web tools to do my job efficiently and effectively. My social networking tool of choice at work is Twitter.  I have come to depend on the professional network I’ve created over the last two years to help me do my job.  I’ve learned to problem-solve out of necessity as well as find and create information.   But I’m not there yet!  I know I will always be learning how to improve my digital literacy.

I have spent more than twenty years in education and much of it has been at Manson Northwest Webster.  I am passionate about making sure our students are prepared for the future, and I believe being digitally literate will go a long way to get them ready for life beyond our school.  

A Road Map? Seriously?

               A real 21^st century learning kicked me in the head this weekend while traveling to Michigan to see my daughter, her husband and our granddaughter.  Heading out, we had the Garmin, and our  phones.  At one point, I was driving through Chicago and my husband was navigating.  Our course just didn’t seem right, and I felt I really needed to see the big picture of where we were headed, not just the next exit.  And, maybe there was a better route. So I said to my husband, “Just get out the Illinois road map.”  And then added, “But keep it down, it’s embarrassing to be seen using that thing.”  But actually it did help.  I figured out the big picture and there wasn’t a better route.  I felt much better.

                At some point during the weekend, I casually mentioned to my daughter that we had to get out the Illinois map.  She looked shocked and horrified and said, “A ROAD MAP? WHY?”  I became embarrassed and defensive and started making excuses about how I hated my Android  Map App,  the Garmin wasn’t updated,  how we did try to keep the map out of the view of other motorists, and if I had an iPhone instead of an Android, I’d have been able to use it.   Finally, I just said, “Actually the map did help.”  We laughed and she shrugged.

                I did notice during the course of the weekend that my daughter used her phone for everything.  I guess I just haven’t quite made that leap.  

Talking About Tech

Christine Sturgeon, the K-12 Librarian and Tech Integrationist at Manson Northwest Webster sent out a tweet from the ITEC conference that went something like this, “We need to do a better job of talking about why technology is important.” Wow, how true! If we believe that tech is important, then we’d better be able to defend it, answer questions about it, have a conversation as to its value, and articulate the role it plays in 21^st Century Learning.

I think everyone will agree that while technology has never been viewed as the silver bullet that will guarantee improved student learning, it plays a vital role in preparing our students for their future. As Michael Fullan writes in his recent article, “Choosing the Wrong Drivers,” technology shouldn’t be one of the main drivers of any district’s school improvement. I agree with that, but will also say that it deserves to be a front seat passenger.

When folks question the value of technology by saying texts and paper are less expensive, we can say, of course that’s true. But that’s not the issue. That’s not even a logical argument. We are preparing our students for a world after high school and we can’t deny that technology is significant part of the world we live in, so let's be able to talk about it!