Week 3 Digital Communication/Digital Literacy

Digital Communication definition: electronic exchange of information.

Cell phones, Instant Messaging (IM), and e-mail have changed the way
technology users communicate. These forms of communication have created a
new social structure of who, how and when people interact.
Digital communication has provided instant access to one another on an
unprecedented level. Many users prefer e-mail over phone calls because it
provides a record of the message. And users forget that even though they may
delete a message it is rarely gone completely, but often stored on a server or
backup for future review. But with any technology there are times when these
technologies can be used inappropriately. Too often e-mails are sent without
thought of who might see them or how they might be interpreted. It is very easy
to write ones thoughts then hit a button and send it out before thinking of the
consequences. There are times when speaking to someone face to face can solve
a situation faster than multiple e-mails.
Cell phones allow us mobile personal communication. For some it has become a
necessity, while for others the constant communication may be too much.
Technologies provide many advantages but we need to weigh that freedom with
the responsibility that comes with it.
Educators face difficult decision on whether or not to allow personal
communication in their schools. Often the presence of cell phones, Instant
Messaging and blogs are seen as inappropriate for use in schools. The question is
do these communication devices have a place in education or should they be
banned? If they are banned, then what message do we send to our students who
have access to these devices outside the school day? Education needs to come to
some decisions on whether these devices can have some educational merit. If
they do find that there is merit to using these communication methods and
devices, how do we teach students when their use is appropriate and when it
is not.
Do we need to be in contact with each other all the time? Do we understand what
is appropriate when communicating with other users? These are questions that
only we can answer. The importance of Digital Citizenship is to provide structure
to technology use. Users need to be able to see that technology is not inherently
good or bad, it is how someone uses it causes that distinction. Digital Citizenship
attempts to show the user how to use the technology appropriately, and if they do
not, that there are consequences for those actions.

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Summary of main issues:

E-mail
Videoconferencing
Instant Messaging
Text Messaging
Blogs
Wikis

Examples of Inappropriate Digital Communication

1. Students leave ringers on high volume and carry their phones all the time.
2. Students who use Instant Messaging (IM) and e-mail shorthand for class
assignments when asked to give complete answers.
Examples of Appropriate Digital Communication
1. Students and teachers using digital communication devices when they will not
interrupt what is going on in the school/classroom.
2. Using digital communication opportunities such as IM and Web blogs to support
what students are doing in the classroom.
Digital Communication Scenario
Mrs. Baxter (language arts teacher) explores new, innovative ways for students to write
essays in class. She finds a website that describes how teachers can use blogs* to help
students post their thoughts and ideas on the web. She decides to set up a blog for her
students.
Inappropriate Mrs. Baxter tells her students to navigate to her blog website and record
their ideas. She describes the assignment as a diary-like writing. After a couple of days,
she finds inappropriate postings (e.g., discussions of boyfriends and girlfriends), but she
cannot identify the authors. After a week, she shuts down the blog and decides that
blogging was a bad idea.
AppropriateMrs. Baxter speaks to her class about the process of blogging. She
emphasizes and illustrates examples of appropriate comments. After a couple of weeks,
the students are responding almost every day, and they are coming to class with more indepth questions that relate to concepts being discussed in class.
*Blog (from WeBlog)--Web page that contains links to Web sites that cover a particular
subject or that are based on some other criterion, such as interesting or entertaining sites.
The blog typically provides a short summary of the referenced sites and may also contain
commentary and humor. Blogs have become a form of artistic expression, enabling
anyone to personally publish a directory about a subject that interests them (Techweb,
2004a)

Digital Literacy
Digital Education definition: process of teaching and learning about
technology and the use of technology.
Technology-infused learning is becoming more commonplace every year.
Technology in the classroom is becoming as transparent as the chalkboard and
pencil. However, teaching how to use this technology appropriately has not
grown accordingly. Learning with technology does not always include
knowledge about what are appropriate and inappropriate uses of technology. Too
often the focus is on learning the technology, and very little is discussed about
what is appropriate.
Schools have more technology than ever before. According to National
Educational Technology Plan (Paige, 2004) there is one computer for every five
students. But where are these computers; are they in students hands? Too often
they are off in a computer lab that is understaffed and under-funded.
Technology is often seen as another class that students go to as opposed to being
an integral part of the larger curriculum.
Even when there are digital technologies available, too often teachers have not
been taught how to use the technology and have no idea what they could do with
it in their classroom (beyond typing papers or doing Internet searches). Teachers
need to use technology to stimulate students to learn. Many educators continue to
use concepts from the past in teaching students. Students are leaving traditional
educational institutions and choosing more innovative ways to learn, such as
online classrooms. Some districts have such large numbers of students leaving
that they have been forced to implement their own distance education programs.
With new technologies at their fingertips students are asking for new ways to
learn. Educators need to be willing to look at alternative ways of presenting
information that be engage these students. We have an opportunity to create a
new age of education and the time begins now.

Summary of main issues:

1. Digital basics: browsers, search engines, download engines, e-mail, etc.
2. Critical assessment and evaluation of online resources accuracy of content on
websites/wikis, trustworthiness and security of online vendors, recognizing
phishing attacks, etc.
3. Online learning modes and delivery of distance education.

Examples of Inappropriate Digital Literacy

1. Students choosing alternative educational opportunities because their
school/district does not offer classes in non-traditional ways (e.g., online classes,
distance education).
2. Teachers does not provide resources and materials that students can get from
technology sources (i.e., blogs, websites, podcasts).
Examples of Appropriate Digital Literacy
1. Students taking online courses which are in a style and pace that keeps them
interested in the course material.
2. Teachers using digital technologies in new ways like creating content for the web
that can be accessed by web-enabled phones.
Digital Education Scenario
John is a sophomore at North High School. John is not interested in sitting in a
classroom all day hearing boring lectures about information that he does not care about.
He enjoys working on his computer at home and working on creative projects such as
creating digital animation.
InappropriateJohn decides to drop out of high school and just spend his time creating
animation on a free-lance basis. After awhile he gets tired of looking for additional freelance work and tries to get a job at as a computer programmer. John keeps getting
rejection letters from companies saying that he does not meet their basic educational
standards.
Appropriate John talks to his parents about being disillusioned about attending school.
He and his parents meet with the high school counselor who tells them about a new
online school the district is creating. The counselor tells John that he can work at his own
pace from his computer and can finish his class work from home as well as continuing
creating animation in his free time.