Digital Passport: Technology Plan

We created a digital technology plan that goes along specifically with the nonprofit organization, CommonSense, and specifically the Digital Passport learning tool. Teaching digital citizenship using a common curriculum is something that our district is lacking. We decided to use Digital Passport because it has a lot of tools to use with students that are interactive and student-friendly. According to CommonSense, “Digital Passport is an interactive learning tool for grades 3-5 that teaches the basics of digital safety, etiquette & citizenship. Students learn foundational skills from online games & videos [...]”.

We have created a presentation that showcases our technology plan on how to best implement this curriculum across the district. Since the state mandates that we teach Digital Citizenship in grades 3 and up, we feel that CommonSense Media is the most trusted organization, and we are confident in using this resource to meet the needs of our learners.

Creating a 21st Century Learning Space

Matching my students' learning space with 21st Century learning styles and standards is something that I feel very strongly about! I am on year 4 of a flexible seating learning environment, and each year I learn something new that will help benefit my students, as well as what I can improve on. In an ideal world with an unlimited budget, there are so many ideas I would address, and tools/resources/spaces that I would add into my room. Here is a list of things to consider when putting together a 21st century learning space, and what you can do!

1. Accessibility- students can move about the room freely.
2. Electrical access- there are 3 outlets along each wall, as well as multiple chargers at the iPad Charging Station.
3. Private and collaborative space- Flexible seating allows students to move tables, seats, working stations in different spaces of the room depending on the given activity. Tables will be set up to support Kagan Strategies for collaborative tasks, too.
4. Display/work surfaces- There is wall space to display student work, along with learning targets for the day/week, anchor charts, etc. One wall would be painted green for green screen opportunities and recordings. 
5. Connectivity options- Personal Wi-Fi for the classroom is a must! There will also be an Apple TV, document camera,  
6. Classroom technology- All students will have individual iPads and headphones. To share out there is a document camera, audio system, and Apple TV projector.  In the makerspace, there is a black & white/color printer and 3D printer.
7. Classroom environment- Lamps will be placed around the room for a dimmer light option. The room will be painted in neutral colors so that student work stands out. There will be a variety of flexible seating: scoop chairs, wobble chairs, rolling chairs, office chairs, ball chairs, rockers,  will be available. Standing desks, movable and adjustable tables, traditional desks, low and high top tables are also part of the seating options. There is a reading corner with couch and reading chairs, and a kidney bean table that I will use as my small group table.
8. Support for active learning - Active learning will naturally occur through all of the flexible seating options, and learning  spaces. 
9. Learning styles- This environment is meant to have a little something for every type of learning style. Students will learn what works well for them, and areas that work better for different activities.
10. Goals for teaching and learning- This classroom will be an environment meant for innovation, collaboration, high engagement, and creativity. 
11. Student engagement - The layout really supports student engagement. All listed in #10 really provides an engaging environment and experience for students.

Here is an updated version of my ideal 21st century learning space, and how it would look: