M2 Blog Post 2

While we live in a digital world, our classrooms should maintain a balance of digital and nondigital approaches. It's super convenient to post assignments online rather than give out paper, especially since most students have one-to-one devices (that is- if they have a charger or remembered to bring their device to school). However, many students that I've asked said they prefer assignments on paper. Furthermore, many students have told me their other classes almost exclusively complete assignments online. The International Literacy Association touched upon the idea that our lives still have digital and nondigital aspects, so it is important that our classrooms mirror that. We must incorporate both, as “digital and nondigital contexts for learning are not discrete, and modern offices are still peppered with print-based texts. So, too, our classrooms must move fluidly between the digital and analog worlds that we simultaneously inhabit." (2018). Having students complete everything online or solely on paper does them a disservice because our world is currently a blend of both. We must prepare students by creating classrooms that are similar to the “kinds of work environments that we expect students to eventually encounter“ (ILA, 2018). Students should practice using technology as a tool, resource and method to assist them, not to rely on it. 


Science is rather challenging to complete everything online due to lab assignments, graphs, and the various activities we do. However, I make it a point to provide students with the opportunities to use their Chromebooks as appropriate. Students often need practice with using and evaluating information online. Since we live in a digital world, this is a skill that will carry them through life. They have an unfathomable amount of information at their fingertips yet they struggle to use it appropriately or don’t know how to use it. Digital literacy is extremely important due to the rapid and constant advancement of technology. Students will need basic digital skills to hold a job and to simply navigate life. Digital literacy goes far beyond using digital sources and analyzing information online, but also “requires a plurality of proficiencies, starting with text literacy and technical skills and extending to include the cognitive and sociocultural strengths.” (Vanek, 2019). Our students need skills that encompass both digital and nondigital approaches to provide them with skills that will translate both inside and out of the classroom. 


References: 


Improving digital practices for literacy, learning, and justice. International Literacy Association. (2018). https://www.literacyworldwide.org/docs/default-source/where-we-stand/ila-improving-digital-practices-literacy-learning-justice.pdf 

Vanek, J. (2019). Digital literacy. American Institutes for Research. https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/TSTMDigitalLiteracyBrief-508.pdf 

Comments

  1. Jilly WoodhouseMay 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM

    I Carolyn, I am a science educator as well and I too find it challenging for my students to complete everything online. Can you imagine my 8th graders having to create multiple graphs online? it would take them the entire class period to do that. I'm not sure if it's just my students, but they are SLOW! I do encourage media for research and scientific simulations for some phenomenon that are abstract. For example, exploring the gravitational forces between objects. I do have my students write mostly on paper, because I do feel it strengthen their writing and grammar, in comparison to having spell check and grammarly at their fingertips.

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  2. Jessica CardelloMay 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

    Hi Carolyn, another science teacher here! I agree that many activities can be difficult or impossible to complete on a computer. I try to incorporate pen and paper assignments as well as computer based work. Many of my students have shared that in other classes, particularly ELA and Social Studies their work is almost exclusively on their devices. This is very evident when I task them with note taking or short writing assignments. Students are quickly fatigued and complain that their hands hurt from writing!

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  3. Mrs. SchindlerMay 26, 2025 at 9:25 PM

    Carolyn- consider how your students might access science information after they are no longer in school. Where will they find it? How will they evaluate its credibility? How might you help them develop those skills while still under the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher like yourself?

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