Internet and the Curriculum

Digital technology in education is very new to me, as I grew up in an Era with limited use of technology. However, my oldest son is in grade 3 and I am seeing the ways that they have incorporated different aspects of technology and how it has been beneficial in helping him learn. For our assignment this week, I viewed the Saskatchewan Curriculum (I had no idea this site existed before today!) I also looked at the Continuum to find outcomes and indicators that can be incorporated into the continuum by creating lesson plans.

To fully understand this assignment I needed to understand what outcomes and indicators are, they are defined below:

Outcomes: are statements of what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of a grade in a particular area of study. The outcomes provide direction for assessment and evaluation, and for program, unit, and lesson planning.

Indicators:  are representative of what students need to know and/or be able to do in order to achieve an outcome. Indicators represent the breadth and the depth of learning related to a particular outcome.

Here are a few examples of outcomes, indicators and a lesson plan for each.

In grade 3 Health Outcome: USC3.1 the goal is for students to determine the role of a variety of healthy foods and physical activity on the health and development of the mind, body, and immune system. Here are a few of the indicators to do so:

1. Begin to distinguish between fact, opinions, misconceptions, and preferences regarding healthy foods and physical activity
2. Predict and recognize how food choices have a direct impact on the types and amounts of nutrients absorbed by the body.
3. Analyze personal food choices for possible consequences on the mind and body (e.g., sugary foods lead to tooth decay, water makes it easier to concentrate)

While looking through the Continuum, one of the links was to the mediasmarts link. “Mediasmarts  has been developing digital and media literacy programs and resources for Canadian homes, schools and communities since 1996. Their work supports adults with information and tools so they can help children and teens develop the critical thinking skills they need for interacting with the media they love.”  One of the things I really liked about this website was that you can search for specific topics related to grades (k-12).

I found under grade 3 a topic dedicated to food marketing and various lesson plans which tie into the health curriculum. One of the lessons was a game called Co-Co’s AdverSmarts: An interactive Unit on Food Marketing on the Web. This is a game that teaches children how advertisements are marketed towards children and the gimmicks they use to draw children in. The children get to choose their 5 gimmicks to create their own advertisement for co-co’s cereal. Once they have picked their gimmick, the computer  character explains to them how advertisers use it to attract buyers. So for example, using contests and games and the use of the word my and many others. There is some really great information for teachers available in the downloadable PDF file about the ways that this activity can be used and how to execute different lessons.

As an Arts Education Student majoring in Drama, I felt it was important for me to try to find outcomes and indicators specifically related to this subject. While I was unable to locate them in the Saskatchewan Curriculum (at the 10,20 and 30 level), I was able to find them on the Continuum. They are as follows:

Outcome: Contextual Dramas Collective Creations Script exploration and development

− In what ways could we use drama to help students recognize and safely stand up against various forms of bullying (e.g., verbal, social, physical, cyber)?

− How can our drama work explore and promote ideas of respectful and inclusive behaviors (e.g., examine the effects of teasing and physical abuse on students’ self-esteem, academic progress, and personal wellbeing)?

− How can our own drama presentations help to raise awareness and increase understanding of the complex dynamics of bullying and promote more respectful and inclusive schools and communities (e.g., identify different forms of bullying and examine resulting fear, anxiety, or depression; examine conflict resolution and prevention strategies)?

While these are specifically related to bullying, I think they make an interesting lesson plan which would help students explore and express their collective ideas relating to bullying prevention and to teach them the importance of being respectful.

Being that my primary job is that of a parent, I wanted to find something that I could use to help teach my children about the importance of internet safety and I found this really cool site on the Continuum. It is called netsafeutah and they have created a bunch of videos to help explain the internet and online safety, which I thought would be a great tool for teaching my children. I mean who doesn’t love cartoons?! and it’s not just for kids, there are lots of great tools for educators and parents.

I look forward to continuing to explore the Continuum and Curriculum for ways to integrate technology into my classroom.