Bringing digital tools and technologies into the classroom has become essential in today’s digital world.
As educators, we know that our pedagogical skills, knowledge and strategies need to adapt – and adapt quickly – to keep up.
It takes skill to discern information on the web and help your students spot fake news.
That’s where digital literacy comes in.
Of course, if you’ve ever searched online for teaching resources, you also know from bitter experience that finding the right ones can prove to be quite the challenge.
With so much information on digital literacy in education out there (a quick Google search for “digital literacy resources” alone yields over three million results), wading through the wealth of irrelevant search results can be a real drain on your limited lesson-planning time.
Luckily, figuring out effective and fun ways to use digital tools and technologies in the classroom no longer has to be a monumental task.
We’ve taken the guesswork out for you by rounding up our favorite online digital literacy resources for teachers. Check them out below!
5 resources for teaching digital literacy in the classroom
1. Digital Learning for the K-8 Classroom
For any K-8 teacher looking to boost student learning in new and innovative ways, Teachers College, Columbia University’s 100% online digital literacy training program is a one-stop shop for everything you need to become a digitally literate teacher – in every sense of the term.
Designed by leading digital literacy expert and award-winning educator Detra Price-Dennis and delivered by Teach Away, the course is self-paced and was specifically created for busy, working K-8 teachers looking to bring their teaching practice up-to-date for the 21st-century classroom.
Digital Learning for the K-8 Classroom covers the latest digital literacy curriculum planning tips, strategies and resources to help you craft effective lesson plans. Take a look at this free digital storytelling lesson plan, that is specifically designed to foster your students’ core digital literacies.
2. Common Sense Education
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving digital literacy among young people.
You can find a huge array of digital literacy resources for teachers on Common Sense, including videos, activities, printables and more, all targeted towards helping you better integrate various digital tools and technology in your classroom.
3. Media Smarts
Although primarily geared towards Canadian educators, the Use, Understand & Create digital literacy framework developed by Media Smarts is an excellent resource for teachers looking for digital literacy resources, regardless of where you’re located in the world.
Media Smarts not only covers hot topics around media literacy, young people and the internet – including teaching students about fake news – it also offers online tutorials for teachers looking to implement basic digital literacy principles in their classroom.
Media Smarts’ resources for teachers are split into several different age groups, with lesson content ideas developed specifically for each grade.
4. Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum
Through a range of free online introductory courses, Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum aims to better equip teachers and students with the essential media and digital literacy skills they need to navigate the digital world safely and confidently
Topics covered include computer basics and best practices around safe internet usage. There are also a number of resources on offer for teachers looking to implement key learnings from the curriculum in their classroom.
5. Carnegie Cyber Academy
Carnegie Cyber Academy is a fun online tool for teachers looking to supplement their digital literacy classroom activities.
Through its online training academy, Carnegie Cyber Academy students learn key online safety practices. Students (or “cadets”) complete training missions in a fun and interactive platform and only “graduate” once they have successfully worked through each mission.
So there you have it: our exclusive run-down of the best online digital literacy resources for teachers.
We also shared our guide to the latest digital literacy apps teachers are using in their classrooms right now. Don’t forget to grab your free copy today!
