Week 10 Group 2 Current Event

Today advancing technologies make information so much more accessible; upcoming generations are going to be immersed into the Information age and  as educators we should facilitate their development for this lifestyle. This week's current event focuses on which three computer/internet skills we think children should develop in order to prepare for life in the Information Age. The Greenfoots believe the following three skills are the most important:

1. Netiquette and Internet Safety Skills

The internet is a very resourceful tool that can be used for leisure or work; what we do and how we communicate with others on the internet can effect us. We think children should be taught how to safely navigate through the internet world as children are utilizing the inter web in school, after school at home, with their friends, and practically everywhere with cell phones. We should be educating them about precautions to take while on the web, how they should interact with strangers, how to identify scams, etc. Safety is the most important skill to know because any harmful thing could happen with misuse of the internet. 

2. Research/Browsing Skills

With so much information at our fingertips its can be challenging to know what sources are reliable. We believe that conducting a basic search through an effective search engine is one of the basic tools to being technologically literate. By developing these skills children will be able to select sources that are credible for their work,gain knowledge, and develop one of the Global Learner Outcomes, which is to become a "self-directed learner".

3. Emailing Skills

Emailing is a popular tool and is often used for communicating with colleagues, professors, friends, and family, near and far. We believe students should have a firm grasp on how to compose, send, add attachments, and organize emails as this is something they will be doing for the rest of their lives. On top of the general use of emailing there is much more to than what meets the eye. Through emails you can create documents, search and organize information, blog, personalize your calendar, etc. There are so many tools that go unnoticed via email, by developing these skills children will be able to make use of the tools email has to offer and communicate effectively with others.