Journal #3: NETS 3, 4

Swan , G., & Park, M. (2012). Students need a digital driver. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-leading/digitaledition/digital-edition-march-april-2013

Summary:  The article mentions that so many schools are implementing programs such as bring-your-own-device (BYOD) to school; many schools are doing away with actual textbooks and becoming digital. The Digital Driver’s License (DDL) was created to provide a sense of security for the children to be online. Children needed to learn “how to recognize and react to precarious situations online, such as cyberbullying and copyright information”. The children are able to set up an online account with their school district. The DDL program consists of a set of modules or assessments such as “practice-its” and “prove-its”. The practice-its are tests that the children read and evaluate a certain situation, and at the end of the test, they are given the correct answer to the responses that they did not get correct. The prove-its are the score graded tests in order for a child to get their license in order to take an electronic device home. The child has to complete the assessment with an 80% or higher and there is an unlimited amount of chances to receive a passing score. Teachers are able to monitor the progress and results of each student throughout the process.

Q: What happens to the child’s digital driver’s license if he or she moves?

A: The great thing about the DDL account is that if a child moves, he or she is able to change and update the information of the new school district. The results of all the tests are saved in the account, so the child does not have to worry about having to retake any modules.

Q: Is the system/program flexible in how it is used?

A: Yes, some schools may require students to pass all of the prove-its before even being able to access the school’s network. Some other schools may allow the students to have access to the network, but not be able to take a device home with them until all the prove-it modules are all passed. It is up to the school district in how they want to implement the system.