1.1 Empowered Learner
There are many ways that schools can help learners feel empowered in their classes. One huge way is allowing students to identify and hone in on student specific goals. Teachers can walk students through goal setting exercises for both short and long term goals. In my courses, I have students develop specific learning goals for each unit (short term goals). But, I also have students develop a semester long SMART goal at beginning of each semester (long term goal). Students are able to check back in with their learning goals as we progress throughout the unit/semester. At the end of each unit we take time to reflect on how we met, came close, or didn't meet our goals and what we can do to make improvements.
1.2 Digital Citizen
Teachers can integrate digital citizenship lessons and curriculum into their classes to teach students about their online identity and why it matters. There are a wide variety of free apps and tools available to teachers. I am linking a few resources below that would be useful for teachers looking for free lessons and tools to aid in teaching students about digital citizenship.
Free Digital Citizenship Teaching Tools
Digital Apps, Tools, Resources
For my high school students, I have students practice appropriate digital citizenship by completing monitored discussion forums on Google Classroom where they post, comment, and practice safe digital citizenship.
1.3 Knowledge Constructor
Mind mapping and concept mapping is a great way for students to process their learning and help make sense of it in their own way. There are a variety of hard copy as well as digital tools that can aid students in mind and concept mapping. Below I'm linking a few of my favorite digital mapping tools for students to use.
1.4 Innovative Designer
Chief Architect is a design software that I use in my Housing and Interior Design class. Students are able to design floor plans according to customer wants and needs. This type of software allows for students to take the drivers seat and create endless possibilities. Each curriculum is going to be a little different as to what tools are available to them but all in all teachers should focus on software or tools are all students to use their imagination and creativity to solve real world problems. Another software I could utilize in a clothing and textiles class is Tailornova; a 3-D online clothing design software.
1.5 Computational Thinker
One way that schools can help students become computational thinkers is by creating lessons that integrate real world problems, hands on labs, data collection, and finally data evaluation. Using the scientific method to test hypothesis as well as technology to collect, track, and evaluate data helps our students to practice real world skills that can be used beyond the classroom.
1.6 Creative Communicator
Teachers can use a variety of platforms to help students to become creative communicators. Something my school has in place is a journalism class that is composed of students who take on leadership roles, interview a variety of school and community personal, and finally write monthly articles to be published on our online newspaper. Students in this class also manage school social media accounts to promote and communicate about school events and activities.
Less specific to journalism class, all teachers can integrate creative communication methods into their curriculum fairly easily as well. English teachers can have students create blog posts instead of writing an informal paper or create digital posters/PSAs/infographics instead of traditional papers. In my Child Development class students utilize StoryJumper, an online children's book publishing site where students can create their own short stories, voice over them, and publish them to be viewed by the public.
1.7 Global Collaborator
Students should be provided with opportunities to connect with students and classrooms around the world. Developing an old fashioned "Pen-Pal" program with a classroom somewhere else in the world is a great way to open student's eyes to other world perspectives. The twist is that a pen pal program now has the capability of moving beyond paper and pencil- students can interact, email, instant message, and even video chat with students and other professionals around the globe!
Another way students can become global collaborators is by taking on a global problem, brainstorming possible solutions, and implementing a class service project that addresses this problem. An example of a current global problem that a class could take on, analyze, and develop a plan for would be the effects of the Russian invasion on Ukraine.
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