Information and digital literacy in education via the digital path

As schools across the country move to some form of online learning for students in response to COVID-19, there is great diversity in how schools are implementing their online programs. As a resource, IDRA has compiled this listing of researched-based strategies for K-12 educators.

In introductory or ice-breaker activities, there are four types of posts that are made by students/participants on discussion boards or community blogs. These four types I have drawn up after looking at a selection of ‘Welcome Sites’ for new students. These Welcome Sites are used for new students to make contact with each other and the Department before they arrive at University. In these sites there is a blog in which students are instructed to make a ‘hello’ post which will be replied to by second year student facilitators or staff. The Blog tool is best suited for Blackboard, but in Moodle you would use a Forum discussion board.

The percent of students who are taking online classes has exploded in recent years, and it shows no signs of abating. This is perhaps no surprise: online classes offer students a great degree of flexibility. But at the same time, the rise of online classes has led to something of a war between traditional and online instruction in higher education. If you peruse the admissions materials for most online programs, you will notice how careful most are to explain that their degree will not indicate that it was earned online, as if this were a source of shame. But it is time to end the war, for the benefit of all students.