Supporting Digital Literacies
Reflecting on my own experience with Genius Hour last year during my grade 5 practicum allows for a more in depth understanding of the integration of digital literacies in the classroom. The biggest difficulty with Genius Hour for students was choosing an open-ended research question. That being said, I would include more scaffolding prior to beginning projects in the future. Students were new to an inquiry based approach and self directed learning and as such more time and input was necessary with respect to creating an appropriate question. The notion that 'should questions' are more open-ended and in turn will generate room for arguments and discussion is one that is easily applicable.
According to the article "Personal Inquiry and Online Research: Connecting Learners in Ways that Matter" by Coiro et al. the core practices of personal digital inquiry include that students actively inquire, collaborate and discuss, participate and create, and reflect. Instruction can vary from teacher directed to student directed but must include personal choice about the role technology preforms throughout the inquiry.
Read the article here: Personal Inquiry and Online Research: Connecting Learners in Ways that Matter.
The framework (PST)2+IC3 is one students and teachers alike will benefit from with respect to enhancing digital inquiry. Following this framework allows for an integrated, interdisciplinary approach with digital literacies.
(PST)2+IC3
Purpose
Pre-existing knowledge
Search
Source selection
Type
Trustworthiness
+
Identifying important information
Compare
Connect
Continually update understanding
Interested in this framework? Read more: What’s the Best Formula for Enhancing Online Inquiry Skills? [(PST)2 + (iC3)] by Michelle Schira Hagerman and Amber White
Questions I Have
How should we incorporate assessment with collaborative open ended questions?
What are some strategies to help embrace the 'beautiful messiness' that goes along with choice, inquiry based, and project-based learning?
When offering choice with questions and partnerships how can you ensure the creation of a question and partner(s) that are reliable and valid without criticizing if guided questions and suggestions are falling on deaf ears?
What assessment tools will be beneficial with group inquiry learning?
How can we provide evidence or what each student can do?
Works Cited
Coiro, J., Castek, J., & Quinn, D. (2016). Personal inquiry and online research: connecting learners in ways that matter.
Hagerman, M.S. & White, A. (2013). What’s the best formula for enhancing online inquiry skills? [(PST)2 + (iC3)]. Retrieved March 7 from https://mschirahagerman.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/irarty313dec13jan14-whats1.pdf
Image. Digital Literacies. Retrieved on January 26, 2017 from http://blogs.salford.ac.uk/digital-literacy-skills/introducing-digital-literacy/
Image. Core Practices of Digital Literacies. (2016). Retrieved January 26, 2017 from http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1017&context=education_facpubs
