CONVERGE: Center for Digital Education

One of the great challenges, and pleasures, of the Web 2.0 tools course I am currently taking is the many new learning opportunities and connections I am becoming aware of each week. There are more discoveries than I can do justice to at one time or in one week. However, I am bookmarking new discoveries and looking forward to future explorations and the possibilities of digital learning and education. Just now, I have spent a bit of time previewing CONVERGE: a blog sponsored by the Center for Digital Education. It is worth a look for parents and educators. This blog offers a wide variety of articles and papers on emerging learning possibilities in digital education. It was with some interest then that I read a review on: "Literacy: Traditional Reading Skills Necessary for Digital Literacy" by Jessica Jones on January 13, 2009. This paper focused on the skills needed in a 21st Century eductation: "Digital-age literacy...Inventive thinking...Effective communication...High productivity. Tucked within this list of key words were the words, basic literacy. '"Basic literacy is defined in the report as "language proficiency in English and numeracy at levels necessary to function on the job and in society to achieve one's goals and to develop one's knowledge and potential in the Digital Age."' The three Rs are still very important, learning to read comprehensively, to write effectively and to be proficient in math. Food for thought... For those interested in where "best practices" in digital eduction are headed, click here to check out CONVERGE.