Our students have 20 hours of English per week. In weeks 7 & 8 they took a progress exam which tested the fours skills, grammar and vocabulary. As yet, there is no part of our assessment which evaluates their up take of digital literacies. Wikipedia defines digital literacy as ” the ability to effectively and critically navigate, evaluate and create information using a range of digital technologies…. Digital information is a symbolic representation of data, and literacy refers to the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently, and think critically about the written word.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_literacy retrieved 3.11.2012). I personally do not have a clear idea in my mind of the digital literacy learning outcomes I am trying to promote. As an institution we need to work on a taxonomy of these and incorporate them into assessment criteria, as a substantial part of our classroom time is being taken up developing iPad skills. So in the interim I have compiled a list of iPad Can Do Statements that iPad based workflows require my students to perform, and that I have observed them carry out. I have not given this list to students to fill in, as the terminology would be a barrier to its completion. Hence, the list has been compiled from field notes, impressions of the classroom and an analysis of learning outcomes. Field notes were based on an iPad Orientation Checklist created by Tony Priest, Andrew Blackmore, Sheila Andon and Peter Waters.
Students can or are developing the ability to:
Core Processes
Navigate between iPad panes including the home screen, additional panes and the search page left of the homescreen
Turn the iPad off completely and put it into sleep mode
Use iPad switches to control volume and luminosity
Set up auto-lock
Set a screen saver and background which personalizes the iPad
Use multitasking finger gestures to operate the iPad effectively
Split the keyboard and add or delete multi- language keyboards
Use the home screen dock and navigation bar to move between a number of Apps
Turn on and use Location Services and find my iPad
Use Accessibility to alter font size on built in Apps such as Notes, to make work visible to a group of people
Project onto Apple TV using mirroring
Print using air print
Set up an email account
Move between a number of email accounts
Specify which email account they wish to send a document from using the ‘from’ tab
Use the search bar to locate specific emails quickly
Create VIPs to be alerted to important sources of information
Email from a variety of Apps such as Creative Book Builder, iMovies
Delete emails
App Store/Itunes
Set up an iTunes account and use Apple ID to acquire Apps
Delete Apps
Use the spotlight search to find Apps quickly
Manage passwords by saving them in a table or by taking screen shots on which passwords are written in Skitch
iCloud/ File Share
Set up iFiles and eBackpack
Download files from iFiles and eBackpack
Set up a WebDAV connection between eBackpack and various Apps to enable files to be uploaded to eBackpack
Navigate the hierarchical folder system on file share platforms
Apps
Understand the generic function behind frequently reoccurring iPad symbols. For example, an arrow coming out of a box means move on to another option, + means insert something, a house means home page, a book means bookmark for easy access.
Organize Apps into folders
Use the set Apps including Note, Pages, Keynote, Puppet Pals, Creative Book Builder, Numbers, iMovies, Neu Annotate, Skitch, Spelling City, Quizlet, Audioboo
Decide which App to use depending on the function required e.g. annotate a PDF, write creatively, record
Arrange files into folders within an App
Use word processing functions such as select, cut, copy, paste, change the font, highlight, define, replace etc
Annotate a PDF document or image using Neu Annotate
Set up and use calendar appointments
Photos and Images
Use the camera to take photos
Download images from the Web
Use camera roll to insert them into various documents
Save photos or videos into albums
Create slideshows
iBooks
Create iBooks in Creative Book Builder
Access institutionally made iBooks via email or eBackpack and open them on the correct iBook shelf
Refer to instructional iBooks such as one providing step by step accounts of how to use specific Apps, or carry out specific functions in order to work independently
Refer to course book unit specific iBook dictionaries
Abilities we have not developed yet
Using tags
Using Explain Everything
Using Popplet
Systematically adding reminders in a calendar
Co authoring with wikis
On reflection, the students and I have followed a steep learning curve and it has very much been a joint venture. I was asked if my students saw me differently, now that I am teaching with iPads. My answer was that they must see me as more of a joint learner on our iPad journey. We are very dependent on each other to solve technical glitches and to remember how to do things within certain Apps. As my students also have 6 hours of tuition from another teacher, they have become more expert in the Apps she frequently uses than I have. I believe that this puts us on a positive equal footing. I have a genuine opportunity to model a ‘growth learning mindset’. When I do not succeed I explore alternative ways of approaching the task, ask for help, or look at reference materials. Hence, I am demonstrating the resilience and resourcefulness that my students need when improving both their English and digital literacies.