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Edmodo, Common Sense Launch Social Learning Digital Literacy Curriculum

  • By Tim Sohn
  • 09/19/12

A partnership created by Common Sense Media and social learning platform Edmodo is providing teachers with student activities designed to foster responsible use of social media and other technologies. Through the collaboration, Edmodo users have free access to "Digital Literacy and Citizenship in a Connected Culture" curriculum for K-12.

Teachers who use Edmodo, which is free for teachers and students, have access to Common Sense Media lessons on cyberbullying, plagiarism, and Internet privacy. Each lesson provides an overview and objectives for teachers, a list of student activities, information and handouts for parents and students, and homework. Separate curriculum is provided for grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12, and it aligns with International Society for Technology in Education and American Association of School Librarians standards.

The digital literacy curriculum, provided by Common Sense Media, which is a nonprofit organization, is based on the GoodPlay Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and studies by Howard Gardner.

According to the project's Web site, "We are investigating the ethical character of young people's activities in the new digital media, including online games, social networking sites, blogs, and other virtual communities. We seek to understand how young people conceptualize their participation in virtual worlds and the ethical considerations that guide their conduct."

"Teaching kids to think critically and behave responsibly in today's fast-paced digital world is essential, and Edmodo is a perfect platform on which to provide these important foundational skills. It's learning about technology by using technology," said Mike Lorion, general manager of education at Common Sense Media. "Giving teachers and students access to our curriculum through a private social learning network is a unique opportunity to put digital literacy and citizenship lessons into practice."

For more information, visit commonsense.org or edmodo.com.

About the Author

Tim Sohn is a 10-year veteran of the news business, having served in capacities from reporter to editor-in-chief of a variety of publications including Web sites, daily and weekly newspapers, consumer and trade magazines, and wire services. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @editortim.

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