Peer Review

21 Things 4 Students

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Reviewed:: Sep 21, 2021 by ICT Literacy

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Ratings

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Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

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Overview:: This website provides free activities to integrate technology into the middle school classroom curriculum (grades 5-9). This site was created to build knowledge and learn new tech skills for the 21st century. REMC Association of Michigan developed this site to help students improve their technology proficiency as they prepare for success in the real world. materials on this site are relevant, applicable, and adaptable.
Type of Material:: Collection
Recommended Uses:: Teachers can assign each skill module, or have students pre-assess their skill, and customize their learnining journey. Teachers can also assign a module to fit a course assessment, such as "Powerful Presentations" if they want students to do an oral presentation on a topic.
Technical Requirements:: works in Windows browsers
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Show competency in 21 digital skills, from safety to design thinking, consumerism, and career prep. For instance, students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks. Students also use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and todemonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
Target Student Population:: Middle School, High School, College General Ed, pre-service teahers and teacher librarians
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Very basic ICT skills

Content Quality

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Strengths:: This set of 21 modules provides developmentally-appropriate learning activities on ICT skiils, which may be done in almost any order or amount. THe information is easy to follow and summarize. Material is current and accurate, and is written by educators. Content is self-contained and is flexible for the user. Links work and content is appropriately attributed.
Concerns:: There is some concern about accessibility for those who might be visually impaired of blind if they are naviagating this site with screen readers.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: Activities are aligned to, and searchable by, ISTE standards and CCSS. The first module is a basic introduction, and the rest of the modules are stand-alone, but build well on each previsous lesson. Each module includes an animation video, learning objectives, key questions, a series of quests that build on each other, student products to do, reflection, and graduation digital "badge." Collaboration is encouraged. The consistent lesson structure facilitatess writing assignments. Concepts are taught efficiently, and are immediately applicable to academic and daily life.
Concerns:: Some lessons are more thorough than others

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:

The modules are informative and engaging for middle schoolers; the video (which proivdes closed captioning) is a fun way to focus attention from the start. The modules and site is easy to navigate independently as they takes users through each topic in a systematic manner. The site needs little technical skill. Teachers can track student progress, and are given several support materials. For help, users can email the site administrators. The site appears to be ADA-compliant.

Website tells a good story for students in this area of technology.

Concerns:

Be aware that captions in videos cover video action when they come up, and bringing up the captions takes some work. The access is not intuitive.

Other Issues and Comments:: The site needs to be updated for Covid-19 and technology equity access issues. A systemic issue well worth covering.
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