Week 1 Competency Objectives

1. Define curriculum–specific, authentic, technology–specific, and kid–specific learning
2. Explain the difference between computer, information, and integration literacy
3. Describe the characteristics of today’s digital students
4. Explain why 21^st century skills need to be incorporated in K–12 curriculum
5. Explain why technology and digital media are important for education
6. Describe the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS–S)
7. Describe the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS–T)
8. Describe ways to implement strategies to meet the needs of today’s digital students

Curriculum–Specific, Authentic, Technology–Specific, and Kid–Specific Learning

You are familiar with the term curriculum; after all, you are an educator! However, curriculum–specific learning may be new terminology for you. The overarching goal of this course is that you tailor your learning to your specific classroom or job situation. It is our desire that you learn skills that apply to your specific situation and that you can utilize in your classroom, with your students, immediately. If you are not in a classroom, then you will tailor your learning to meet your specific job needs.

Authentic learning is another term you have probably heard a lot about. Your textbook defines authentic learning as "learning experiences that demonstrate real–life connections between students’ lessons and the world in which they live." Research shows that providing students with authentic learning situations causes them to be more motivated and to retain their learning longer. It makes their learning more meaningful. You will explore many authentic learning techniques as you progress through this course and it is discussed in greater depth in Chapter 6 of the textbook, which we will be looking at in Week 6 of the course.

Technology–specific learning is a new term that is defined as learning more about how to integrate the technologies that you currently have in your classroom or school, and those technologies that may become available to you in the near future. For example, your district may be purchasing new netbook computers, new smartboards, or installing a new student attendance/grading system; throughout this course you will be able to tailor your learning experiences to your chosen technologies. In other words, your learning will be technology–specific instead of technology–generic. You also will explore many new and exciting technologies.

Another goal of this course is to familiarize and equip you with new digital skills to foster kid–specific learning in your classroom. Kid–specific learning may be a new term to you, however, as a teacher you are already utilizing this technique in your classroom. Kid–specific learning meets students where they are; at the level they are currently at, and helps raise them to the next level. Kid–specific learning is what happens when students have your individual attention and you are able to help them work through a problem or learn a new concept based on their specific needs. Unfortunately, there is only one of you and many more of them. This makes it difficult for teachers to utilize kid–specific learning techniques as often as they would like. This course will equip you with new technology skills and strategies to provide more kid–specific learning for each student in your classroom! Your final project, which you will learn more about in coming weeks, is all about kid–specific learning. Kind of exciting, huh?!

In summary, our goal throughout this course is to provide you with curriculum–specific, authentic, technology–specific, and kid–specific learning experiences; experiences you can apply immediately in your classroom or job situation.

If you have completed reading this page, continue to the Classroom in Action page.