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This post considers how to improve performance in NAPLAN ( National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) by ensuring your students have the digital literacy skills to sit an online test. This post considers the year 3 reading test.  In year 3 the writing test is still paper based and the rest are online. From year 5 all tests are online including the writing test that is now typed. This introduces a standardised test that is inadvertently testing digital literacy and the question is...is your school teaching the skills your students need to answer the questions and have a fair go? For the year 3 reading test students need the following skills: navigate numbers to enter their 8 digit ID number enter numbers or text into an answer box click and drag pictures, objects and lines use a trackpad (if you don't have touch screen computers) or mouse turn the timer on and off identify radio buttons for a single choice identify check boxes for multiple choices be able to deselect an in...

Significant Challenges Impeding Technology Adoption in K-12 Education See  Part 1  of this series on the Horizon Report 2015 Solvable Challenges: Those that we understand and know how to solve  Creating Authentic Learning Opportunities Schools are now beginning to investigate learning opportunities with in the local and global community. What can be done to solve local problems and what community groups can we connect with to solve them. This builds relationships for students and enables real life learning experiences.  An example  is where Hospitality students catered for a morning tea for local seniors while students from year 6-10 assist the seniors with IT skills they needed to work with their iPads and laptops. There has been  Australian Research  on school and community partnerships. Integrating Technology in Teacher Education Integrating technology skills into teacher education yet each I am continually disappointed with the lack of...

What are the most crucial skills a teacher needs? Teaching is more than imparting knowledge. It is quite possible you will have students in your classes who know more than you.  So... how do you teach someone who knows more than you?  What skills can you teach them? Initiative Problem solving skills Research skills - to locate an answer to questions you and your students may have  Information literacy - locate the author and validity of a website Digital Citizenship - model and teach how to be safe online Able to learn, unlearn and relearn Self Discipline What does a teacher need? Must have a tool box of technology tools. Be able to use and assist students with at least one Wordprocessor Spreadsheet Presentation tool Video editing/Movie creator Picture editor Sound recorder  Video camera (maybe a phone?) Searching skills A teacher must be able to teach effective search skills. Here a few resources to help with teaching search skills. ...