Category: Learner Digital Literacy

the skills and knowledge taught to learners

Living with Digital

Living with Digital – learner digital literacy theme

This page outlines the digital literacy skills and knowledge that learners should have to participate fully in the modern world. This ranges from awareness of digital devices, platforms and services and how they affect our lives to being able to troubleshoot common issues with technology. 

Back to learner digital literacy

Digital Learner diagram (landscape)

Where to start

Learners should be able to:

  • register and apply for services, buy and sell goods and services, and administer and manage transactions online
  • find solutions to problems using digital tools and online services
  • stay safe, legal and confident online.

See more information on this in the accordion menus below (click to expand the blue bars):

setup and use accounts

accoutns

go to Cyber Toolkit for advice and guidance on setting up accounts

buying online

transactions

go to Cyber Toolkit for advice and guidance on online spending

troubleshooting

 

troubleshooting

accessibility

accessibility

safe and legal

safe and legal
Cyber Toolkit for Teachers – DigiLearn (glowscotland.org.uk)

What next?

Learners’ own digital literacy skills and knowledge  Essential Digital Skills (checkup.scot)

Essential digital skills – SCVO

 

There are further examples and contexts in the accordion menus below (click to expand the blue bars):

Digital affecting the world around us

Scotland: a digital nation

chnaging nation scottish government policy 2021

“Scotland’s future will be forged in a digital world. It’s a world in which data and digital technologies are transforming every element of our nation and our lives – people, place, economy and government.”
(Scottish Government, 2021)

It might be worth exploring some of the features of this policy with learners and considering the impact of an evermore digital world.

How technology is shaping the world

tech she can

After learning about what computers and digital technology is, and how they work, learners could investigate how technology is used in a range of industries. These resources from Tech She Can are free to use and easily adapted to suit different ages and stages:

Lesson packs – TechSheCan

 

Environmental impact of technology use

bbc bitesize

 

 

 

 

All of the devices and technology we use has two obvious environmental impacts – the raw materials to make (which then need recycled again) and the energy to power them. There are lots of activities and lesson ideas on this page about Sustainability that could be linked into learning about device manufacture, energy consumption and eventual disposal.
Could your learners reimagine or improve this cycle?

2nd level Learning for Sustainability – BBC Bitesize

This page on the BBC Future site has some fascinating reading with lots of information and statistics for teachers. Do you know the CO2 emissions of sending emails and direct messages or watching a video on YouTube? There’s facts and figures that could be used to create challenges for learners to consider and solve:

 Why your internet habits are not as clean as you think – BBC Future

 

Computers, devices and apps

What is computing science?

go to the Digilearn Computing Science pages

What are computers?

bbc bitesize

Without going too far into Computing Science (a specific Technologies organiser within CfE) it is important to understand the basics of how computers and other digital devices work.

These BBC Bitesize pages are a great place to start:
What is a computer system? – BBC Bitesize (first level)
What is the internet? – BBC Bitesize (first level)
Input and output – BBC Teach (second level) 
Computer networks – BBC Teach (second level)

 

What are apps and how do they work?

Make it Happen

App design challenge

Apps for Good

digital pencil case webinar 11 may 4pm

11 May 16:00, Developing Your Learners’ Digital ‘Pencil Case’

This professional learning will help teachers identify the Learning with Digital skills and knowledge of functional apps that learners will use to access, undertake and evidence learning. Having the skills and confidence to use these apps regularly will empower learners to apply this learning across other curricular areas.

Sign up with this link to EventBrite: Sign up now!

Digital Learner diagram (landscape)

 

Attendees will get an overview of the revised digital literacy planning support and its themes and focusing on the Learning with Digital theme. They will identify the digital literacy skills, and the corresponding apps, that they will require learners to use across the school year.

As a result teachers will have a clear picture of the skills they will require learners to have, examples of planning and resources for teaching these skills and then be able to embed these across the curriculum.

Digital Xtra Fund

The goal of Digital Xtra Fund is for every young person in Scotland to have access to innovative and digitally creative activities regardless of their gender, background, or where they live. Through supported initiatives, the Fund aims to inspire young people to understand and create with technology, not simply use it. Schools and educational organisations positively engaging young people in tech can apply for up to £5,000 to support an extracurricular activity which focusses on digital tech, especially initiatives that also provide opportunities for young people to informally engage with industry and learn more about how digital skills and tech are relevant in the ‘real-world’.

Find out more about Digital Xtra Fund with this link: https://www.digitalxtrafund.scot/

Since its inception in 2016, Digital Xtra Fund has awarded £875,000 in grants to 137 exciting and meaningful extracurricular computing and digital technologies initiatives across Scotland. This funding has helped grant recipients engage nearly 45,000 young people in tech. For the current academic year, Digital Xtra Fund has recently awarded 35 grants to schools and educational organisations which are projected to engage another 7,500 young people (including 3,800 girls and young women) and show them the breadth of opportunities these skills can provide.
View the 20/21 impact report with this link: https://www.digitalxtrafund.scot/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Digital-Xtra-Fund-2020.21-Impact-Report.pdf

Applications for next round of grant awards (Round VIII) will open in January 2023 for activities delivered during the 2023/24 academic year. However, now is the perfect time to think about what you would do with the funding and who you could work with to better engage more young people!

Find out more about the latest recipients and their projects using this link: Digital Xtra Fund awards 35 grants to drive digital skills.

Please follow Digital Xtra Fund on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for future updates.

Quick Links for Digital Xtra Fund

Digital Xtra Fund website

20/21 impact report

Round VII (2022/2023) initiatives supported by Digital Xtra Fund 

Digital Literacy Planning Support Document

This webinar will provide first access to the brand-new Digital Literacy Planning Support document (currently for first and second level) from Education Scotland. This document is designed to support educators plan, resource and assess digital literacy in a range of contexts with distinct themes, example activities and skills and knowledge identified for each distinct context

 

use this link to view the documents

ON DEMAND DigiLearnScot: Developing ideas using animations (Keynote & iPad)

In this lesson from DigiLearn learners will go through a step-by-step tutorial to create an animation using the Keynote app on iPad.

Animating ideas is an excellent way for pupils to visualise and share their knowledge. From animations describing the journey of Jacobite soldiers, to story boarding ideas for a creative writing project. Using out of the box tools and features, pupils can easily visualise the story they wish to tell and share their understanding in a modern and exciting way.

Whilst this lesson will use the magic move component on Keynote and iPad, the methods and techniques are transferable to a number of curricular areas and apps.

It is advised that if you attend this session, you have access to an iPad and Keynote. The step by step instructions and hands on will use the features inherent to this app – we appreciate that not all pupils will have access to this.

If you wish to attend and use another tool such as PowerPoint, you are welcome to do so but please note that you will not be able to replicate in exactly the same manner

 

 

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DigiLearnScot: Keeping my devices and accounts more secure (Cyber Resilience and Internet Safety) lesson

Learners will explore how their devices store data, how they connect to the internet, and how to keep them more secure

 

Learners will:

  • identify the things (data) that they value on their device, and why it is valuable
  • explore how to keep their device and data more secure, including passwords and other security features
  • earn how their device connects to the internet and web services, how this changes how data is stored and secured, and why this should be considered when sharing content
    d

Resources required:
Just something to make notes, share ideas or draw on

 

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ON DEMANDDigiLearnScot: App Prototyping

Join the DigiLearn team for a live lesson exploring the impact of apps on our lives and lead learners through the steps to create their very own app designs.

Designing apps is a great way to work together and solve challenges that exist in the community. This virtual app prototyping activity will give aspiring coders a chance to celebrate their ingenuity as they develop their ideas and share solutions with their peers.

The best apps start with an idea, and this activity will start the same. Before attending, it is advised to brainstorm an idea with pupils. Think of the purpose, who will benefit, what problem will it solve or is it simply an entertaining way to share information.

Using the PPT/Keynote template you will build your prototype to figure out exactly how your app will work and what the user experience will be.

You will then have the opportunity to build your working prototype that you can share for feedback and evaluation.

This lesson will be led on Keynote on iPad but other presentation apps, such as Google Slides or PowerPoint (desktop/app), can be used in the same way. We will share a template that can be easily edited on PowerPoint (online version users can edit content but not the navigation buttons).

There will be a short video tutorial on how to create the template, link slides, and use navigation buttons in PowerPoint/Keynote.

If you wish to prototype an app using pencil/paper you are more than welcome to watch along and gather ideas.

 

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Use this link to access all supporting resources

Screening Shorts

Screening Shorts: reading film and images

This live lesson will give your learners an opportunity to explore film and screen images as texts. They will explore strategies to make predictions about a film, then use still images from the film to learn about sequencing a screen narrative, leading to the first steps to creating their own short film.

The text we’ll be exploring is ‘Mobile’ on Screening Shorts (GLOW LOGIN REQUIRED). 

In this adorable animation, a lone cow hangs by herself on one side of a child’s mobile. Although her weight balances that of the others on the opposite side, she feels lonely. When kindly Mouse invites Cow over, and she tries to find ways to join the animals on the other side, chaos ensues. Can they find a balance?

Resources required:
Sharing thinking: anything you’d normally use, such as post-its, or go digital with our O365 Whiteboard | Google Jamboard

Sequencing images: you could do this with pen and paper, print these slides, or go digital and share these slides with learners

Annotating images: you could draw the images and add speech bubbles or indirect speech on paper, or you can use the slides and draw speech bubbles with text or record and add audio to them

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How to make a copy of the O365 Whiteboard | Google Jamboard

How to download or print the slides PowerPoint | Slides | Keynote

How to make a copy of the slides and share with your learners PowerPoint | Slides | Keynote

How to add speech bubbles PowerPoint | Slides | Keynote

How to record and add audio PowerPoint | Slides | Keynote

28 November 16:00, This is iPad: Everyone Can Create

Everyone Can Create

In this session we will look at ways in which we can use the iPad as a digital pencilcase, develop the freedom of creativity and expression and pupils, sharing knowledge in ways that are relevant and engaging

  • How can pupils use creativity to explore their learning?
  • What are some of the resources that will help me get started?
  • Wht are some of the ways in which creative lessons can be introduced?

https://www.apple.com/uk/education/k12/everyone-can-create/

Book your space now

Prior knowledge

It is recommended that you are familiar with the basic operation of your iPad.

It is also recommended that you have started to gain your badges on Apple Teacher https://education.apple.com/en

Visit our YouTube channel to see some tips on using your iPad:

02 November 16:00, This is iPad: Accessibility Features in the Classroom

Explore the built in Accessibility features of iPadOS and how these can be used to support learning & teaching for all learners

About this event

Accessibility

Having an accessibility need can be a daunting prospect for learners. Having an Additional Support Need that isn’t visible c`an impact pupil confidence and ability to take part in classroom activities. Accessiblity features on iPadOS can benefit all learners. Especially those with SEN/ASN.

  • What are some of the built in features that can support learner needs?
  • What are some of the ways these features can be used to enhance learning & teaching?
  • How can these be used?

Book your space now

Prior knowledge

It is recommended that you are familiar with the basic operation of your iPad.

It is also recommended that you have gained the iPad and Keynote badges of Apple Teacher https://education.apple.com/en

Visit our YouTube channel to see some tips on using your iPad: