Developing Digital Skills in your Classroom by Maria Petrescu

1. What are Digital Skills and why do we need them?- 1.2. The future of work

mepetrescu — 2015-09-21 05:28:26 UTC

I am thinking that work in 2015 will require more flexibility, a big capacity to adapt to job requests which are various and changing, a big capacity to communicate and work in a team, and of course digital skills, which are normal by this digital native generation.

1. What are Digital Skills and why do we need them?- 1.3. Jobs of the future

mepetrescu — 2015-09-21 05:47:10 UTC

Ithought it might be interesting to have a quick look at some research that was done by Forbesmagazine into the 10 skills that employers haveasked for or they want from 2015 graduates:1.The ability to work in a team structure2.The ability to make decisionsand to solve problems3.The ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside of the organization 4.The ability to plan, organize and prioritize work5.The ability to obtain and to process information6.The ability to analyze quantitative data7.Technical knowledge related to the job that they’ve entered8.Proficiency with computer software and programmes9.The ability to create and/ or edit written reports 10.The ability to sell and to influence others

1. What are Digital Skills and why do we need them?- 1.5. Future thinking

mepetrescu — 2015-09-21 06:07:43 UTC

The big technology drivers will be:3D printing of pretty much anythingBig and open data through cloud computing Sensors on pretty much everything. Sometimes referred to as the Internet of Things Constant connectivity via 3G, 4G, 5G etc. More and more robots and by that I mean everywhereUniversal and instant translationAnd the blurring of virtual and physical worlds through things like augmented reality and holograms .

For us as teachers, we shouldn’t be worried about this technology. We should embrace it like we do with other things but we should also as well be thinking about these five key principles in our classroom.

- Let’s keep education values-based.

- Let’s really concentrate not on the technology but on what is important to be a human being.

- Let’s make sure that we teach young people to be resilient and also how to embrace change because change will be the only constant over the next 10, 20,50 years.

- Let’s make sure that we put innovation at the heart of every curriculum.

- And whatever happens, let’s make sure that us as educators remain positive and always deliver the best possible service to children and young people.

I’ll finish off with the quite. This is a quote from Chris Kennedy, Superintendent of Schools of the WestVancouver Schools District. He says, “...technology is not going to make teaching easier, but it’s certainly going to make it different.”

2. How to use digital resources/content?

mepetrescu — 2015-09-21 14:37:22 UTC

I like to create digital content (videos, online magazines, online quizzes) and I have used some of the Web 2.0 tools for my eTwinning projects. I use social networks for online communication (for example Facebook), but I'm not a fan and I don't think I'm a good online communicator. I am also not a programmer. But in general I feel comfortable using digital technology.

2. How to use digital resources/content? - 2.1.c. Searching the Internet - advanced search

mepetrescu — 2015-09-22 08:36:09 UTC

2. How to use digital resources/content?- 2.2.d. Content and Copyright - digital plagiarism

mepetrescu — 2015-09-29 09:47:58 UTC

3. How to create digital resources/content?

mepetrescu — 2015-09-29 09:55:34 UTC

I am not good with programming, coding. But I want to learn how to make an app, or about augmented reality. I use Facebook, but I am not a fan, I am overwhelmed by so many posts and I don't read them anymore. I don't use and I don't understand twitter. I can easily learn to use web 2.0 tools, but I am overwhelmed by the great number of them.

3.1. Writing for the Web

mepetrescu — 2015-09-29 10:16:36 UTC

I provide an audience to my students offline by making exhibition with their works, in the school, on the walls , in the school magazine. Online I share sometimes their work on the school's facebook group. I have sometimes problems with sheareing somebody's work, I am not sure that student likes or not to share his/her work. That's why I first ask, or I say to the student to share himself his work. I intend to make a class blog where all the students can share what they find the most significant about their work.

3.2. Collaborating Online

mepetrescu — 2015-09-29 10:38:45 UTC

3.3. Audio and Video

mepetrescu — 2015-09-29 15:36:03 UTC

3.4. Website Design

mepetrescu — 2015-09-29 15:37:14 UTC

3.5. Games Design

mepetrescu — 2015-09-29 15:38:02 UTC