With the advent of technology, there is no doubt that the educational institution has also taken a significant step in integrating technology into its world. Therefore, we have no choice but to go with the flow, to use technology from time to time in our teaching learning situations. This is especially true now that young people use media and technology mostly in their day, with some using their gadgets to keep up with social media. Additionally, large businesses and corporations and social service processes are now using digital technology in their products and services, whether it is placing orders on a product or receiving payment for goods.
The total avalanche of digital products and processes is unstoppable, and we teachers need to equip ourselves. Incorporating digital literacy into our curriculum could be of great help. We teachers can use digital technology like LCD projectors, computers, tablets, and smartphones in classroom discussions such equipment to have faster learning discussions and to gauge the interest of our students. We can also use YouTube videos, clips, and music that we can upload online to make our course even more engaging.
However, even if we want to integrate it, we also have adequate knowledge on how to use it. We need to better understand how these gadgets work and how to fix them if something goes wrong. In case of activities of our students, we can insert performance-based activities into our classroom lessons by asking them to create PowerPoint presentations, miniclips or complex and complete digital tools. These activities will teach them how to use these digital tools and how to be more effective in this fast-paced world we live in. Doing these activities could also help them be critical thinkers, because inventing tools or designing websites requires a mind that can analyze facts and create results. It will also help them to persevere in the pursuit of learning, since these tasks must have a person who does not give up easily in the face of hardship.
Indeed, teaching digital literacy is more of a need than a desire. We need to make our students responsible and effective digital citizens in our society. And as much as we want to give them the technical clamor of the digital world we face, we need to also teach them that digital literacy also means creating and sharing digital content or products that help the lives of others.
By: Catherine L. Jongco| Master Teacher I | Bataan National High School | Balanga, Bataan
