Connecting with the World: Giving Our Students a Voice

We will kick off your course with an inspiring recorded lecture from Shannon Miller! A proud UNI alum.

Shannon is an international speaker, consultant, and award-winning author with a passion for education, librarianship, advocacy, and technology. She’s the K–12 Director of Innovation of Instructional Technology and Library Media at Van Meter Community School in Iowa, and also serves as the spokesperson for Future Ready Librarians and is a national faculty member for Future Ready Schools.

As the voice behind the acclaimed Library Voice blog, Shannon inspires educators and students around the world to create, collaborate, and connect. Browse and bookmark it for a future classroom resource.

Before watching the lecture: 

• Open and analyze the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards for teachers and students. ISTE standards provide a framework for learning, teaching, and leading that is amplified by technology.

• ISTE Standards for Students emphasize the skills and qualities we want for students, enabling them to engage and thrive in a connected, digital world.
• ISTE Standards for Educators define the new skills and pedagogical insights educators need to teach, work, and learn in the digital age.
  
  
• Bookmark these standards. We will be referring to them throughout the course.

• Download and scrutinize the "I am a Digital Age Learner" poster. It breaks down the ISTE standards for students in an easy-to-follow concept map. If possible, print the poster and place it in your workspace. It should guide your future decisions when creating projects for your students.
  
  
• Ask yourself: "Am I a digital-age learner?" Am I ready to become a digital-age teacher?

While watching the lecture (see Lecture folder in eLearning) :

• Try to make a list of the skills and tools mentioned by Shannon.

Think:

• Do you know many skills and tools to give you and your future students a voice?
• What did your high, middle, and elementary school teachers do to give you a voice and connect you to the world outside of your classroom?
• What can you do to make your future students' learning more meaningful and engaging?
• Do you see an echo of ISTE standards in Shannon's teaching?
• What has changed since the lecture was recorded?

Visit the Library Voice Blog