“Today’s Young Learners Do NOT Want to Use Paper!”By Cathie Norris, Associate Dean for Research & Development, University of North Texas, USA,Elliot Soloway, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor,
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Abstract
Unlike previous generations who grew up with TV as their babysitter, the digital-first, Alpha Generation children (those born after 2010) grew up tapping and swiping on a hand-held screened device (smartphone, tablet). Give them a paper worksheet? NOT a chance! Curricula must be graphical, colorful, interactive, collaborative. The University of Michigan Center for Digital Curricula provides just such OER curricula for K-5 for the 4 core subjects. Use it tomorrow!
Bios
Cathleen Norris , Associate Dean for Research, College of Information, the University of North Texas, Denton, TX. From 1995-2001, Norris was President of the National Educational Computing Association, and led its merger with ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education, creating the largest, international organization for technology-minded educators in the world. Norris was Co-President of ISTE from 2001- 2004. Norris’ 14 years in K-12 classrooms – receiving a Golden Apple Award from Dallas ISD along the way – has shaped her university R&D agenda: developing resources to support K-12 teachers as they move into 21 st century classrooms. Norris is the co-founder and Co-Director of the UMich. Center for Digital Curricula.
Anne Tapp, Professor of Teacher Education, College of Education, at Saginaw Valley State University, serves as the director of PD for the University of Michigan Center for Digital Curricula. She was named teacher of the year when teaching P-12 and was awarded the Landee Award for Excellence in Teaching at the university level. She serves as the director of PD for the University of Michigan Center for Digital Curricula. She was elected to the Executive Committee of the American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE) Board of Directors and is past chair of the AACTE Advisory Council of State Representatives (ACSR) Executive Committee.
Elliot Soloway, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, CSE Division, College of Engineering, School of Education, U. of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In 2001, undergraduates selected him to receive the “Golden Apple Award” as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year at UMich. In 2019 Soloway co-founded the Center for Digital Curricula, whose mission is to provide deeply-digital, OER curricula to K-12 teachers. 10,000+ K-5, children have used the Center’s curricula – and demonstrated increased scores on standardized tests.