Workshop: Supporting the Alpha Generation using Deeply-Digital Curricula
Wednesday, April 13 1:45 PM-2:45 PM
Alpha Generation children – those children born after 2010 – are not going to sit still and do paper-and-pencil worksheets, nor will they page systematically through a paper-based book. Alphas are the first truly “digital-first” generation. They have grown up with some sort of screen – smartphone, tablet – in their hands. They are comfortable poking and scrolling on a screen; they will learn to write their block letters on a screen with their finger or a stylus. Over the past 3, COVID-disrupted years, 10,000+ K-5 Alpha Generation students, primarily from Title1 urban and rural schools, have used visual, deeply-digital, standards-aligned, collabrified, OER, curricula created by the Center for Digital Curricula. And, standardized test scores in those schools have either gone up or stayed at pre-pandemic levels! In our workshop, we will explore with attendees how they can use “Roadmaps” – the graphical format for the deeply-digital lessons - with pre-service and in-service teachers – immediately!
With: Elliot Soloway, Univ. of Michigan
Cathie Norris, Univ. of North Texas
Anne Tapp, Saginaw Vallley State University