Information Literacy & nT – November 2011
Why It’s Important to Know, Trust and Think Critically About the Resources I Use
Teachers are telling us that helping students use online resources effectively is really important to them. Those 21st Century skills that are needed to be ready for college and careers are often not addressed in the classroom curriculum, so teachers are seeking ways to add information literacy instruction and resources on their own. netTrekker provides teachers with a greater understanding of just what information literacy is, why it is important and how to teach it…
- Teach students how to ask significant questions.
- Acquaint students with the types of sources available to them.
- Give students models and tools to use in evaluating information sources.
netTrekker Global Portfolio
Access the Global Portfolio Content in netTrekker where we have gathered resources on these and other methods to increase information literacy in your students.
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Quick Poll: Helping your students gain information literacy will pay off not only in better research skills and classroom discussions, but in better-informed citizens and more careful consumers. How do you address information literacy in your classroom?
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Early Information Literacy
I was really excited to see the recent release of a new book for early readers and grades by ISTE (the International Society for Technology in Education). The book is intended for educators and parents wanting to introduce the concepts of digital citizenship for children aged 5 to 9, with the first book focused on acceptable, safe and responsible use of technology. Finally we are addressing an issue starting at the youngest ages when children are either starting to experience technology in meaningful ways or wondering what all the fuss is with technology by the adults in their lives. In ISTE’s words, the book features “Teachable moments that help young learners understand safety and ethical issues around technology use at home and at school, digital citizenship topics that provide clarity and allow for expanded discussion”.
Is age 5 too early for these discussions? I have a 5 year old who enjoys multiple types of educational technology both in school and at home. She is asking some very good questions about her experiences with technology, but not all of them do. My nephew, 9, recently wanted to get an email account (in his words “because everyone else has one”) and somehow got signed up for Gmail. It was a tough conversation to explain to him that there are some things that are shared in emails that aren’t appropriate for someone his age and he really needed to use a monitored email if he really wanted to be able to use it with his friends. When parents and educators monitor use of email and online resources there is a level of protection for end users that haven’t developed the skills to discern what is appropriate and what isn’t. The conversation would have been much easier and much more meaningful if there was a story that could share the learning point without feeling like he did something wrong or was being lectured to.
Looking forward to more books in the Piano and Laylee series from ISTE…
Piano and Laylee Learn About Acceptable Use Policies (Hardback)
By Carmela Curatola Knowles, Illustrated by Emily Lewellen