Digital Literacy/Northstar
Recent Newsletter Articles
Teaching Essential Email Skills and Digital Resilience
We all agree that it's essential for adult learners to know the basics of how to send, read, and receive emails. But there are some other overlooked, yet essential digital skills we could also be teaching, including building learners' digital resilience and self-efficacy in digital spaces. Read More
IDEAL 103: Building an EdTech Strategy
While platforms such as Khan Academy or LinkedIn Learning host vast repositories of educational content, it can be a challenge incorporating them into the classroom. If you’ve struggled to digest and master a platform’s content, or how to meaningfully include such tools in the classroom, then the IDEAL 103 course is for you! Read More
You (yes, YOU) Can Teach Digital Literacy! The New Northstar Foundations Course Can Help
You likely know that the Northstar Digital Literacy standards are one of the three required sets of content standards for Minnesota Adult Education. Now, there’s a new online course to help all teachers integrate these standards into their teaching practice! Read More
EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit: Routines to Level Up your Classroom
Over the last two years, we’ve seen more than our share of Top 10 lists and highlight reels with the newest tech to try. Finally, an EdTech Toolkit goes beyond an information-dump and provides repeatable classroom routines using low-barrier tech resources for you and your students. Read More
Northstar & CCRS: Cheers for Collaboration!
Have you been looking for ready-to-go standards aligned digital literacy lesson plans to support learners in topic areas like Using Email, Internet Basics and Google Docs? Would you like assistance with integrating the College and Career Readiness Standards and computer skills? Check out this webinar summary and recording for ready-to-go resources! Read More
Believe It or Not! Information Literacy and Adult Learners: Part 2
"Don't believe everything you read." This reminder is truer today than ever! Adult Basic Education can take the lead by promoting instructional strategies to make ABE students at all levels into more critical readers, listeners, and thinkers in this age of mass information. Here are some specific resources you can use to do exactly that. Read More
Special Funding Provides Opportunity to Enhance Distance and Online Learning
The one-time Minnesota Adult Education allocation of $10 M for FY 22 offers a great opportunity for long-term planning and capacity building. As programs continually adjust to the unfolding aftermath of the pandemic and a rapidly changing labor market, this funding can help Minnesota respond creatively to the shifting landscape. Read More
Digital Navigation Survey Results
Literacy Minnesota recently conducted a survey to gather information about what digital navigation looks like in adult education programs around the state. The survey was intended to give more of an insight about what digital navigation services are already being provided and where programs may need more assistance. Read More
Eight Components of Digital Navigation
Digital navigation provides learners access to devices, affordable internet, and digital literacy skill training. Literacy Minnesota has created a list of what digital navigation looks like in programs and what services could be provided. Here are the eight components of digital navigation and a few helpful resources. Read More
Digital Navigation: A New Way of Supporting Teachers and Students in the Distance Learning Era
For many ABE programs, moving to distance learning has created challenges for both teachers and students. To address these challenges, Literacy Minnesota created a new staff position of digital navigator. This person helps learners access devices and assists with technology support and digital literacy skills. Read More