In an era where misinformation can appear anywhere, students from Letort Elementary in Mrs. Wenger’s class participated in a lesson to sharpen their digital literacy skills.
Penn Manor School District technology trainer, Judy Keller, developed a game called ‘Digital Smart Kids: Navigating the Online World Safely.’ Keller developed this interactive game for her Google Education Innovator Project. Digital Smart Kids addresses the critical need for early digital literacy education (K-6).
Digital Smart Kids is dedicated to fostering a generation of critical thinkers and responsible digital participants. The game currently has a level for grades one and two, with more grade level options becoming available in the near future.
Prior to playing the game, students created a detective hat using a template on Keller’s website. The students enjoyed creating and decorating their detective hats.
Students are asked to watch a video with one of the lead detectives in the game and from there, they are encouraged to become a digital detective and answer what the real story is or spot the fact among fake ones.
Once the student selects the correct answer, balloons and confetti celebrating their correct choice appear on the screen or a frowny face and a sad trombone if the incorrect choice is selected.
Upon completing the game, each student receives a digital detective badge celebrating their success.
CBS21 sat in on a lesson recently with the 7-year-olds in Wenger’s classroom. Keller acknowledged, “At a young age, they are more impressionable. You have to guide them earlier than we think we need to.”
We are so proud of our digital detectives from Letort!