The tools and resources on the web must be applied to help students become productive digital citizens of their 21st century global digital society. What do you see as your role in preparing your students for their place in their world? What specifically will you do in your classroom to ensure that preparation?
The textbook includes several categories of web tools and resources, such as communication tools, search engines, web-based multimedia, and wikis. Each category has a bunch of applications. It would be impossible for a person, no matter a teacher or a student, to manage all of the existed programs, not to mention that new products appear every day. Based on the textbook and my understanding, preparing students for the 21st century global digital society does not equal to simple teaching them how to use an online tool but should focus on fostering the ability to well-participate in the new community, which is depicted as information literacy. However at the same time, the ability can only be developed through the mastery of numerous technology tools.
I totally agree with the guidelines listed in Table 9.2 on page 224 and the role of a teacher is so important for preparing students for the new world. For example, the third guideline says, “Students can demonstrate the technology skills necessary to use and participate on the Web.” If I were a teacher, I would incorporate two communication tools in the class, such as the blog and discussion board. After students know how to use them for posting thoughts and interact with peers. I would guide them to make the summary of what are the similarities between the two. Then they’re supposed to explore other communication tools online by themselves. By that time, they would be able to know that these various tools, though different, can all be used to post text, attach files, add images, videos, and audios, and embed outside resources. Later in their life, even a tool is entirely new to them, they would not be terrified but use it well. That’s because they already developed their literacy. It works with other categories of tools such as the multimedia tools. Once students build their information literacy, they would be better adapted to the 21st global digital society.
The challenges depicted on page 221 mentioned the difficulty of keeping up with the ever-changing web technology. It’s impossible for teachers to accompany their students all the time. Preparing students with their information literacy is so important that once succeeded, students will be able to conduct self-study anytime and never be left behind by the society.
As for the course site, I incorporate several web tools in it, such as EDpuzzle, Quizzizz, Google Slides, Google Docs, Online Forums, video, podcast and so on. Students would be able to learn the course contents and at the same time, have the chance to get in touch with various formats of online tools and foster their information literacy. The course site is linked below for your reference.