Using Volunteers to Support Digital Literacy Rob Podlasek Susan
Wetenkamp-Brandt November 2, 2012 Volunteer Management
Conference
Slide 2
Agenda 0 Warm-up 0 Whats the Big Picture? 0 Volunteer Roles
& Tasks 0 Skills, Knowledge, and Attitudes 0 Supporting the Use
of Volunteers 0 Reflection
Slide 3
Draw Me a Picture What does digital literacy look like in your
ABE program? 0 2002? 0 2012? 0 2022?
Slide 4
What is Digital Literacy? 0 Computer Literacy: the knowledge
and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently 0
Digital Literacy: the ability to effectively and critically
navigate, evaluate and create information using a range of digital
technologies 0 Definitions from Wikipedia.org
Slide 5
Digital Literacy: Beyond basic computer use to: producing and
critically consuming information; communicating; engaging with
media Computer Literacy Controlling the hardware; Using common
software applications
Slide 6
Why teach Digital Literacy? 0 Job skill 0 Life skill 0 In 21 st
Century America, if you are not engaging with digital media, you
are not a full participant in our society.
Slide 7
ABE Instruction is Changing 0 Implementation of the Northstar
Digital Literacy Standards & Assessments 0
www.digitalliteracyassessment.org www.digitalliteracyassessment.org
0 GED 2014 = computerized test
Slide 8
Optimizing Technology Integration Keep it SAFE for adult
learners: 0 Seamless 0 Appropriate 0 Facilitated 0 Empowering
Dillon-Marable, E. and Valentine, T. (2006), Optimizing Computer
Technology Integration, Adult Basic Education, 16(2), 99-117.
Slide 9
What does this mean for us? 0 ABE volunteers will see more
frequent and diverse use of computers and other digital devices in
the classroom. 0 ABE volunteers will be needed to support adult
learners as they develop digital literacy skills.
Slide 10
What does digital literacy instruction look like? 0 Direct
instruction 0 Exploratory learning 0 Project-based learning
Slide 11
Direct Instruction 0 I 0 We 0 You
Slide 12
A Sample Lesson Google Image Search
Slide 13
Volunteer Roles & Tasks 0 I stage: 0 Keep learners focused
on the teacher 0 We stage: 0 Review directions 0 Reinforce
vocabulary 0 You stage: 0 Coach learners 0 Help troubleshoot
Slide 14
Helping a Learner 0 What NOT to do: a demonstration 0 Whats
better?
Slide 15
Skills, Knowledge, Attitudes 0 Skills 0 Digital literacy! 0
Coaching skills 0 Knowledge 0 Purpose of lesson / lesson objectives
0 Common errors 0 Effective strategies 0 Attitudes 0 Helping Doing
it for them or giving the answer. 0 Helping = Guiding learners to
find the answer for themselves.
Slide 16
Encouraging the Use of Volunteers 0 We can:
Slide 17
Supporting Volunteers 0 We can:
Slide 18
Reflection 0 What is your #1 take-away from this session? 0
What is one question or concern you have about using volunteers to
support digital literacy instruction? 0 Whats your next step?
(Something you can do before Dec. 31)