Lesson 6: Developing basic digital skills

With the boost of technology in education as we call it today our learners is the new digital world of information and communication technology (ICT). Teaching need to be equip with the sic fluency skills. Basic literacy will not replace the 3 R’s (reading, writing and arithmetic), but they will be complemented by six essential skills to equip students for success in the millennial world. The fluency skills are the solution fluency, information fluency, collaboration fluency, media fluency, creativity fluency and digital ethics.

a.       Solution fluency. This refers to the capacity and creativity in problem solving students define a problem, design solution, apply the solution, and assess the process and results. 

b.      Information fluency. It involves 3 subsets of skills, the ability to access information, retrieve information, and to reflect on, assess and rewrite for instructing information packages.

c.       Collaboration fluency. Refers to teamwork with virtual, real partners in the online environment. There is a virtual interaction in social networking and online gaming domains.

d.      Media fluency. This refers to channels of mass communication/digital sources(radio, television, magazine, advertising, graphic arts).

e.       Creativity fluency. Adds meaning by way of design, art and storytelling to package a message. Font, color, patterns, layout are elements creative fluency. Templates for PowerPoint presentation and blogs are available for free access in the internet.

f.       Digital fluency. The digital citizen is guided by principles of leadership, global responsibility, environmental awareness, global citizenship and period accountability.

HIGHER THINKING SKILLS
Bloom’s Taxonomy serves as a general framework of skills that requires information processing, idea creation and real-world problem-solving skills. The following taxonomy may be proposed:
1. Remembering recall information
2. Understanding-explain ideas
3. Applying-use information in a new way
4. Analyzing-distinguish different parts
5. Evaluating-justify stand or position
6. Creating-new product/point of view

The structured problem solving-process known as 4D’s also exemplifies the instructional shift in digital learning:
·         Define the problem
·         Design the solution
·         Do the work
·         Debrief on the outcome