Full disclosure – I have not done much work on my Major Project in the past couple of weeks. We’ve been fighting Covid in our home and our school and it has been busy and overwhelming. Our school had to transition to online classes again for a week, driving home again the reality of Mike Ribble’s first of the Nine Elements of Digital Literacy (2019), Digital Access. I live in a rural area that Sasktel has decided only Hillbillies inhabit and do not need access to proper internet. As such, I was forced to increase my cell phone data limit to be able to teach and learn online throughout the week. This is just me, the teacher; my students and their families also face the same problem. Though my Major Project will not focus on this aspect of Digital Literacy, it is very real for my students and I.
I have downloaded the Tik Tok app and have painstakingly been learning that, in order to access content I am actually interested in seeing, I must watch what seems like endless videos of teenagers saying and doing the most bizarre and witless things, so I can tell the app I am “not interested”. I have tried searching for things that interest me, and have made some progress with this, but am mainly getting videos of cute puppies now. I am still looking for educational content and am wondering if it exists on Tik Tok. I have received a “Welcome” email from the app and look forward to perusing the privacy policy, help, and safety links provided in the email.
As far as Flip Grid goes, I have not begun my exploration. I have used the website before, but need a good refresher. I have a team project coming up next week in another course I am taking and have suggested we use Flip Grid to present our content. I told them I would set everything up so I can kill two birds with one stone and get a refresher course while getting some homework done. I am anxious to get into this as I’d like to use it with my students.
Of Ribble’s Nine Elements of Digital Literacy, the 5 that I believe I will focus on the most include Digital Communication and Collaboration, Digital Etiquette, Digital Health and Welfare, Digital Rights and Responsibility, and Digital Security and Privacy. Naturally, just by doing the project, I hope to expand greatly on my own digital fluency, the fifth element. These 5 elements are the ones that interest me the most because, for me, they are the ones most pertinent to a healthy mind and body when it comes to youth and their online lives. Admittedly, the online world scares me a little. Through this project, I hope to gain a good enough understanding of it that I feel at ease using it, comfortable talking about it with my students, and at ease with what my own kids are doing in a world where I feel I have little to no control.
Oh goodness, it sounds like you really are dealing with a lot at home with COVID and internet issues. Hopefully, everyone is feeling better. I think that a lot of people are in the same boat as you are right now, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much (yet). I think you’ll really like Flipgrid once you get to use it more and figure out some of the neat features that it offers. Even if the online world scares you a bit, you don’t have to jump completely into the water. It’s okay to dip your toes into the water and test it out.
Balance can be so challenging. As a mother, educator, and student, I get it and understand. Tik Tok scared me at first; I mean, it still does. I do find the content rather interesting as well. I created a video, but I am nervous about making it public. The more we learn and dig in, the more comfortable we become. I enjoyed your comment about our overall health around online presence. I am excited to see your process, and thank you for sharing your journey.
I find it interesting that TikTok hasn’t found your niche content yet based on the information you’re giving it on what you want to find. I can’t help you with any answers on how to narrow it down to teacher-based content, but I do know that it exists on TikTok, as I’ve been forwarded many a teacher TikTok video from others. TikTok definitely doesn’t strike me, personally, as a social media app that would be very beneficial to me as an educator. I much prefer Twitter, Instagram, and even Facebook! If you end up finding some good educator content on there, though, I’d be interested to hear your process of doing this/who you’d recommend watching. All the best as you continue your Major Project journey, Leah!
Leah, I hope you are doing well and COVID has finally kicked it from your home. We had it go through our house as well; my daughter was the only one who did not get it, she isolated herself away from the rest of us who were isolating away from her… teenagers! I shared a post last week about the privilege of technology or the lack of it and in your case it seems to have found itself in the lack of access Sasktel has given you and your students. This makes the 9 elements of digital literacy more complicated due to the lack of digital access. It is unfortunate that you had to increase your cell phone data usage but also fortunate that you are able to do so.
Over the break next week I am hoping to work with my daughter to create some share worthy tiktok videos, maybe sneak in some mother daughter bonding time (without her realizing it).
Thanks for the reminder Christine that I am indeed fortunate to be able to increase my data package. I hope you and your daughter get some quality time together! Us moms will take it any way we can get it!