番茄视频

With so many sources of information available in today鈥檚 digital age, technology literacy is essential for today鈥檚 students. Many students struggle the most with finding and critically evaluating information 鈥� a skill that becomes more important every day. 
 
The  defines digital literacy as 鈥渢he ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.鈥� 

One of the major components of digital literacy is being able to create and communicate clearly.听Success听in today鈥檚 society听increasingly depends on being able to communicate using digital tools, so we as educators need to听make sure听students听are听able to听navigate them successfully.听

What听Is Digital Learning?

Unlike traditional classrooms, which rely on face-to-face instruction and printed materials, digital learning uses online content, collaborative platforms, real-time听data,听and even virtual reality or AI-driven learning environments. These environments can be live (synchronous),听self-paced (asynchronous) or a combination of both.听
听
A听digital classroom听is simply an educational environment where technology is used to enhance and facilitate teaching and learning. It can be fully online or within a physical space that integrates digital tools.听

听In a digital classroom:听

• Lessons might be delivered through learning platforms like Google Classroom,听Canvas听or Moodle.听

• Students can use digital devices (tablets,听laptops听or smartphones) to complete assignments and听participate听in discussions.听

• Teachers use tools like interactive whiteboards, video听lessons听and online quizzes to engage students and evaluate progress.听

• Collaboration happens through shared documents,听forums听and messaging platforms.听

Learning Technologies

Digital learning is versatile and can take many forms. Some real-world examples of different learning technologies include:听

• Virtual听classrooms:听These听serve as听live online classes where students and teachers interact in real听time.听
  • Ex.听Zoom, Microsoft Teams听

• Online听courses: These platforms are usually asynchronous and enable learners to access quality education from anywhere.听
  • Ex.听Coursera, edX, Khan Academy听

• Interactive听simulations:听Some examples include science labs, language learning听games听or math simulations that allow hands-on learning in a virtual听space.听

• Adaptive听learning听platforms:听Software that uses AI to tailor instruction to each student鈥檚 learning pace and听style.听
  • Ex.听Textbook publisher McGraw Hill听utilizes听the听Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) program;听software like听DreamBox听or Smart Sparrow听

• Digital听portfolios:听Students compile work听over time, reflect on听learning,听and share progress with parents and teachers.听
  • Ex.听Tools like Seesaw or Google Sites听

• Gamified听learning:听This type of instruction听utilizes听platforms that make learning engaging through game-based elements and听competition.听
  • Ex.听Kahoot!,听Quizizz,听Classcraft鈥�听

• Augmented and听virtual听reality听(AR/VR):听These immersive tools听can听take students on virtual field trips or simulate complex听scenarios.听
  • Ex.听Nearpod VR,听ClassVR鈥�听

The digital classroom is a flexible ecosystem that adapts to students鈥� needs and learning styles. Educators can use technology to make learning more effective and inclusive, whether it’s a flipped classroom model or virtual school. Many school districts face challenges offering families different options when it comes to being in the classroom, hybrid learning or fully digital coursework. 

Blended Education听

Blended learning combines traditional in-person instruction with online learning tools and methods. It鈥檚 a hybrid model that offers the best of both worlds. 

听In a blended classroom:听

• Students might have class time or attend a lecture in person and then complete an online assignment at home.听

• Teachers use data from digital platforms to personalize instruction.听

• Learning becomes more student-centered, allowing learners to progress at their own pace while still听benefiting听from teacher guidance and peer interaction.听

Blended learning supports differentiated instruction and accommodates various learning preferences. There are several models of blended learning, including: 

• Rotation model:听Students rotate between different learning stations (some digital, some face-to-face).听

• Flipped classroom:听Students learn听new content听at home via videos or reading, then apply that knowledge in class.听

• Flex model:听Most听instruction is听delivered online with teachers providing support as needed.听

Beth Abeyta is a digital teacher librarian at Two Roads Charter School in Golden, Colorado. Since earning her M.Ed. in Educational Technology (now known as the M.Ed. in Instructional Design and Educational Technology) from 番茄视频 (ACE) in 2019, she鈥檚 been applying her digital literacy skills to design engaging, interactive online and hybrid curricula at her school. She shared some examples of blended learning models in action:鈥� 

听鈥淲e鈥檝e听digitally听modified听so many different things.听We鈥檝e听done virtual field trips and campus tours for 11th graders, digital portfolios for our senior summit, discussion听forums,听and quizzes. Our teachers also use a rubric to create their classes in Schoology. This way, students know every time, regardless of the content area or teacher, what they can expect to see when they enter a digital class.听That鈥檚听a digital literacy strategy we used with the teachers for the students鈥� benefit.鈥澨�

Benefits of Blended Learning听

Digital learning is not one-size-fits-all. It鈥檚 about creating dynamic, personalized learning experiences for every learner. It鈥檚 designed to be interactive, giving students an immersive opportunity to engage with material in a variety of ways. This approach has a wide range of benefits: 

• Personalization:听Digital tools allow educators to meet the needs of diverse students and tailor instruction to individual students’ learning speeds,听styles听and interests.听

• Flexibility:听Students can access learning materials anytime, making it easier to balance school with other responsibilities.听

• Improved听engagement:听Interactive content, gamification and multimedia experiences keep students motivated and invested, both inside听and听outside the classroom.听

• Better听data听and听insights:听Real-time analytics help teachers understand student performance and intervene earlier, when support is needed most.听

• Preparation for the听future:听Blended learning models foster digital literacy, critical听thinking听and self-directed learning听鈥斕齭kills essential for higher education and the modern workforce.听

Building Your Digital Classroom, Step by Step听

1. Identify听needs.听The first step to creating a blended environment is to听assess your needs听as well as your students鈥櫶齨eeds.听What are your curriculum goals? Evaluate your students鈥� access to devices and the internet, and your own comfort level with technology.

2. Build听your听toolkit.听Find out what digital tools and platforms you may have access to through your district or public library. Choose platforms that integrate well with each other and support your instructional goals. How can you听utilize听technology to help you meet those goals? Start simple and scale up.听

3. Create听digital听content.听If you have a lesson or lecture you know like the back of your hand, try translating it into some bulleted Google slides with GIFs, interactive pause points like polls, and feedback sections. Record yourself lecturing as you move through the material. Use a mix of videos, readings,听quizzes听and interactive media. Make sure content is accessible and inclusive for all learners.听

4. Train听your听students.听Provide orientation for your students. Remember,听digital literacy is key, and building effective digital literacy skills in your students means providing them with a solid foundation and understanding of tools,听processes听and best practices.听

5. Encourage听collaboration.听Use discussion boards, shared听documents听and video calls to keep communication flowing between you and your students. Are there simple ways for you to incorporate fun into the mix? Encourage students to use emojis, meme responses,听etc.听

6. Gather听feedback and听iterate.听Ask your students听what鈥檚听working and听what鈥檚听not.听Create a culture of positive and helpful feedback for you and your learners.听Refine your approach with data.听

Digital and blended learning designs are here to stay. Give these steps a try, and you鈥檒l have a classroom equipped to prepare students for a technology-driven society. 

番茄视频 offers fully online education programs that equip educators with relevant, innovative technologies for more efficient and effective classrooms.