Posted by CMatheson on
URL: https://nabble.aealearningonline.org/POST-3-Share-a-resource-tp360p515.html

I will be using StarWalk Kids Media to enhance our digital literacy curriculum. To reach the website, I went to Heartland AEA’s Library and Digital Resources webpage, then clicked on Online Resources in the left margin, then chose “K-5th.” This takes you to a Mackin Via login page where I used our district username and password. I clicked on the View Groups tab and chose CyberSmarts. This brings up a list of 5 ebooks and a description of each. Clicking on More Info displays a page listing details of the book, including lexile and interest level.

The 5 ebooks include Avoiding Predators Online, Playing Games Online, Protecting Your Privacy Online, Stopping Cyberbulling and Using Social Media. Each ebook is 24 pages long and is geared toward 4th grade through middle school students. When the book is open, each page of text has an accompanying photograph following it on the next page. For each page, their are several options in a menu in the left margin: Vocabulary words, which when clicked display the definition with the option of having it read to you by the computer; Learn More, which provides interesting facts and trivia through charts, lists and graphs; Instructional Support for the teacher which includes pretests, lesson plans, and .pdf’s; and Resources such as a list of supporting websites. At the top of the page is an email icon that when selected will display a sample problem email and offer 3 choices of how to deal with it.

I will probably present one of these books in an Instructor-Led lesson to show them how to navigate the ebooks, then I will use the remaining 4 books in my centers to work independently or in partners. The overall objective is for students to become more tech savvy and safe when online.