Eclectic Technology

Digital citizenship is important to understand for today's students, staff, and teachers. Microsoft has just unveiled a free curriculum that gives great tips and ideas on teaching digital citizenship and creative content.

This looks like a great resource. It is designed for students in Grades 8 - 10, but the site suggests that you may also use it with Grades 6 & 7. There are four units. Each provides student learning objectives. The units are:

* Unit One: Creative What? - Exploring the general topics of  "intellectual property, creative content and creative rights" with a focus on intellectual property and creative content.

* Unit Two: By Rule of Law - A more in-depth look at creative content copyright.

* Unit Three: Calling All Digital Citizens - Using social media as the backdrop a look at "how does the prevalence of online media — and its ease of access — change the conversation about those rights?"

* Unit Four: Protect Your Work, Respect Your Work - How do you protect your creative work? This unit looks at this issue as well as other "issues related to originality and plagiarism."

Technology can help make your education environment more accessible to those with special needs.

This guide includes:

* an overview of accessibility and its effect in the classroom;

* definitions of impairment types and tech solutions for each;

* an assistive tech overview and decision tree;

* links and references for more information.

It is available to download in English and Spanish.