Lesson 6: Developing Basic Digital Skills

Rosalie G. Alegarbes                           BSEd General Science4                      MW 3:00-5:00pm

Lesson 6: Developing Basic Digital Skills          

Content

The following are fluency skills which will not replace the basic Rs (reading, writing, and ’rithmetic), instead it will be complemented for a more skilled students. These are: Solution fluency--- the capacity and creativity in problem solving. Information fluency--- this involves 3 subsets of skills, namely: an ability to access information, an ability to retrieve information and the ability to reflect, assess  and rewrite for instructive information package. Collaboration fluency--- refers to the teamwork virtual or real partners in collaborative online environment. Media fluency--- is the need for analytical mind   to evaluate the message in a chosen media, as well as creative ability to publish digital messages. Creative fluency--- is the artistic proficiency in design, art, and storytelling. It include templates for PowerPoint presentation, blogs etc. Lastly, digital ethics--- guided with principles of leadership, global responsibility, environmental awareness, global citizenship and personal accountability.

Experience

There a lot of activities that a teacher can use to develop these essential skills, not to replace the basic knowledge but to be complemented to these process skills. As what I can observe, teachers are really trying their best to provide learning experiences to cater the development of these 6 process skills. This has been manifested by the use of technology to support the development. For an instance; when our teacher asked us to make a movie, it helped us to develop our collaboration fluency. The virtual laboratory in cell biology was an example of an activity that helped developed our solution fluency. In this activity, we were able to think, find solution for the problem. Through making our own PowerPoint presentations, photo editing, and padcast helped us develop our information fluency, as well us creativity fluency. Now, our blogs where we can post our CERA will help developed our creativity and media fluency.

Reflection

As what was being mentioned in this lesson, 6 essential skills must not replace the 3 basic skills. Instead, these 6 fluency skills must be complemented to equip students to be more competent, responsible, and skilled individuals. Since students are now called us digital learners, teachers must apply the technology to help the students. Developing these basic skills will then lead to the development of higher thinking skills and the appropriate method that a teacher can use is to have an outcome-based activities and results.

Application              

        

Developing these 6 essential process skills of the students is also great challenge for every teacher. That is why a teacher must be skilled and knowledgeable enough to handle, use and apply activities which would help in the development of these skills. As a future teacher, I realized that one way to help develop these 6 essential skills is to give activities in which the result is a tangible output. Giving activities that are outcome-based is an applicable teaching technique. An example is  by asking your students to have a role  play on the effects of biodiversity loss, through this, it will help  develop the solution fluency (how to do the role play), information fluency (acquiring information to be  used), and collaboration fluency. Then, you will ask your students to take a video of the presentation and post in the youtube or in just their facebook or instagram account. By this, it will develop the media and creative fluency of the students. While the information in that video presentation will inform everyone their responsibility for the environment could help develop their digital ethics.