The Content Catalyst readings this week that Miranda, Jenni, and Allysia shared had many commonalities that made me think about how I can change the way I teach to be more 21st-century.

Miranda’s article “Lessons that Build Students Media and News Literacy” was fascinating and posed a few questions for me. Are we educators only interested in teaching the same thing year after year? Why are we afraid to add technology to our teaching? The Common Sense digital citizenship curriculum is something that I am going to share with my teachers as it gives everyone a starting point as to how to educate our students and help them to think critically when they see something online. Instead of us being scared and apprehensive about using technology we should be using it and teaching our students how to use it and to not take things at face value. That there are benefits from looking at reliable sources and not just taking the very first website that you come across as being the best and having all the correct answers. I like the three philosophies that were shared in the article as they truly break down into easy steps what we are trying to do. The lesson ideas are also useful especially when it is Digital Literacy and Citizenship week.

Jenni’s article, ‘Embed Digital Citizenship in All Subject Areas‘, was an eye-opener. It made me realize the practicality and importance of this approach for educators. I really liked how it talked about teaching empathy, social responsibility and relationship-building and figuring out how to make this something that is not only done in our everyday lives but also our online lives. I know that I have struggled how to incorporate digital citizenship teachings into my daily teachings in a meaningful way that isn’t taking away from the curriculum I am mandated to teach. I liked how this gave ideas of how to add onto the outcomes. I thought that this was meaningful as it isn’t adding onto the already full plates of educators but making a simple little tweak so that this is incorporated in a meaningful way. The suggestions given would also easily be adapted for a variety to grade levels.

The final article that Allysia shared ‘How to Infuse Digital Literacy Throughout the Curriculum‘ gives some good ways in which we can implement the use of digital literacy throughout all curriculum areas. Overcoming our fear of trying something new and stepping out of our comfort zone is the first step. This approach not only shows our students that learning is a lifelong journey but also gives them the chance to take on the role of the ‘teacher’. This article has us working on educating our students at vetting the information that they are finding to help and determine if it is material that has merit or not. We need to start educating our students about copyright and how to properly credit information that we are using. I liked the ideas of having the students be creative and using digital platforms to do so as this is an area in which many students excel and it is something that they could teach their teachers about. If they are in need they can use YouTube or an online blog to help and teach them what they are wanting to learn. As in Jenni’s article Allysia’s also talks about how it can easily be incorporated across curriculums and done in a meaningful way. Digital citizenship and literacy doesn’t have to be an add onto what we are already doing. We can simply incorporate it into our daily teaching.

Are there ways in which you are already doing this? If so what are they and do you feel that they add more work to your day or is it something that has become a part of your daily routine?