Literacy
The web is now a two way street where anyone can upload content for everyone to access. This is both a liberating and scary concept. Information is no longer controlled by a few but everyone. The consumer of information must be wary of what they find on the world wide web. They must become savvy evaluators determining the relevancy, reliability and credibility of the information. They must develop 21st Century Literacy Skills. The following are some suggested resources related to these skills.
21st Century Literacy Skills
General Information
- The Partnership for 21st Century Skills offers a wide range of resources on teaching and learning. It also has links to state initiatives in this area and the research that supports the need to focus on all 21'^st'^ Century Skills including literacy.
- Information Fluency Tips from the 21st Century Information Fluency Project
- Noodle Tools presents Information Literacy: An Overview of Design, Process and Outcomes
- Texas Information Literacy Tutorial
- 21st Century Skills as described by the blog Infinite Thinking Machine.
- This information fluencey wiki has lots of resources.
Lesson Ideas
- Using primary sources, a lesson around photographs as primary sources, recommended for grades 9-12.
- Visuwords a graphical dictionary.
Evaluating Websites
General Information
- Evaluation Criteria for evaluating a website.
- Evaluation Rubrics for Websites.
Lesson Ideas
- A webquest on evaluating websites, recommended for grades 9-12.
- Understanding URL's a 21st century skill, recommended for grades 7-12.
Copyright and Fair Use
General Information
The easy availability of information and the ability to download, copy and paste has increased the need for an understanding of copyright and fair use.
- Copy Right and Fair Use is a chart by Hall Davidson that outlines how copyright and fair use applies to the classroom
- Copyright and Fair Use resources from Stanford University
- Creative Commons provides alternative copyright and licensing options to reflect the growing ideas of open source and the free exchange of information. The Infinite Thinking Machine offers a good blog entry on why people share.
- Disney Style Video Explaining copyright created by Eric Faden a professor of Bucknell University.
Lesson Ideas
- Cyberbee provides a great question and answer activity to introduce students to copyright issues, recommended for grades 6-8.
- This online lesson examines the online music industry and copyright, recommended to grades 9-12.
- A PowerPoint on plagiarism recommended for grades 8-12.