UK kids may soon be taking a big leap ahead in media-literacy training. A proposed overhaul to Britain's elementary school curriculum - the biggest in a decade - was just leaked, The Guardian reports.
Children will be required to leave primary school familiar with blogging, podcasts, Wikipedia and Twitter as sources of information and forms of communication. They must gain "fluency" in handwriting and keyboard skills, and learn how to use a spellchecker alongside how to spell.
Tell us: What do you think of these proposals? Would you like to see your kids' schools implement them?
Thanks,
Maureen
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Maureen Kochan
ConnectSafely community manager
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Anne
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Re: Social-media training in schools
Apr 26, 2009 4:35 PM
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Completely agree, Tezzahandy - the tools and technologies of social media need to be embraced or incorporated in teaching more than taught as if students didn't already know how to use them. And, just like all tools, such as paring knives and power drills, constructive use needs to be taught so inherent dangers can be avoided. Seems so obvious. Why is it that so many adults, at least on this side of the pond, seem to be surprised or indignant that dangers are associated with tech tools (or they're exaggerated as if the tools themselves are evil)? Thanks for posting,
Anne
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Anne Collier
ConnectSafely co-director
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Tezzahandy
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4/17/09
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Re: Social-media training in schools
Apr 17, 2009 8:04 AM
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I wait to see if this ever does make it into the UK National Curriculum. I agree with Olav that the use of "Twitter" etc is not in the proposals and would suggest that this is a good thing as, in maybe a years time or even sooner Twitter may be a thing of the past!! What is important is that as educators we equip students of all ages with the skills and competencies they need for life both in and more importantly outside of school. This must include web 2 technologies, both the benefits of them and the dangers. I suspect some of the reticence from teachers and senior leaders is that this may encourage our learners to become researchers and heaven forbid - know more than we do  ! |
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olav
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Norway
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Re: Social-media training in schools
Apr 10, 2009 3:31 AM
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Good to hear. As teachers we should be curious about whats happening in a childs world. The schooling system of today makes us fight to get an opening for media education that involves the cores mentioned in the comments. After all - is there a law of nature that we always have to trail behind - or follow the flock at a distance ?
One more thing - Maureen does not say anything about w2 - maybe I should have answered her question first ?
Yes - I think the proposals are good and of course - I would like them implemented here !
Olav
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Anne
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Re: Social-media training in schools
Apr 9, 2009 5:01 PM
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Thanks for your post, Olav! There are sooo many educators here in the States, too, who would love support of good social-media instruction and use in school. They have so many hurdles, certainly not budgetary only! You are not alone. All best,
Anne
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Anne Collier
ConnectSafely co-director
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olav
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39
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Norway
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9/30/06
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Re: Social-media training in schools
Apr 9, 2009 11:18 AM
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Naturally I would welcome this in my school ! For almost a decade I have been trying to get media awareness in the backdoor . The front entrance is heavily guarded - for now....
The Article in the Guardian actually is bending the truth a bit.
Twitter or Facebook is nowhere to be found in the suggestions made by Jim Rose . Twitter occurs in on of the comments made by specialists who were asked for their initial thoughts on this.
Having said that : I find the commentys made by the readers pretty frustrating.
mattdrummer says:
"A lot of this looks positive, but teaching children about web tools? Surely it should be the other way around."
That's really the problem - it should not be like that!!!
Teachers have to seek knowledge - and be able to guide the kids through a complex w2.
By the way - the most important issue in a long time - and not a single reply.
I have my thoughts on this - as I am sure Maureen and Ane and Larry have.... hmmmmmm
Could it be that it forces us to look beyond our own horizon ???
Again - I would love to see this implemented in Norwegian schools - But teaching Facebooks is something I fear the schoolsystem here is not ready for - yet...
(While waiting , I'll prepare for next weeks lesson - on w2's)
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Maureen
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6/13/07
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Social-media training in schools
Apr 7, 2009 8:54 PM
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UK kids may soon be taking a big leap ahead in media-literacy training. A proposed overhaul to Britain's elementary school curriculum - the biggest in a decade - was just leaked, The Guardian reports.
Children will be required to leave primary school familiar with blogging, podcasts, Wikipedia and Twitter as sources of information and forms of communication. They must gain "fluency" in handwriting and keyboard skills, and learn how to use a spellchecker alongside how to spell.
Tell us: What do you think of these proposals? Would you like to see your kids' schools implement them?
Thanks,
Maureen
~
Maureen Kochan
ConnectSafely community manager |
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