Information and digital literacy in education via the digital path

Technology is definitely a game changer in today’s classroom. Its pervasive widespread in educational settings speaks volumes about the growing importance we come to place in it. However, while many teachers have already domesticated some of this technology into their daily workflow (e.g, preparing handouts and docs, creating lesson plans, communicating with students and parents…etc) a pragmatic leverage of this technology for instructional purposes remains barely noticeable. By pragmatic leverage we mean the use of technology to enhance key cognitive skills such as higher order thinking skills, critical thinking skills, and problem solving to mention a few.Technology integration in this sense is not an end in and by itself by a means, a roadmap to facilitate teaching and learning.

You’ve probably heard about the benefits of digital learning: It’s engaging, student-centered, often collaborative, and can increase student achievement.

But here’s the catch:

You and your students won’t reap these benefits if you don’t purposefully plan your use of technology.

Too often, teachers think of technology as something to check off of a list. “Does this lesson use technology? Nope…How can I sprinkle some in?” Using technology merely for the sake of using technology isn’t effective teaching.

Instead, here are five digital learning theories and models that can help you tap into the benefits of technology and enhance student outcomes.