Teach Applied Digital Skills for the first time

If you’re teaching the Applied Digital Skills curriculum for the first time, explore these resources to help you before, during, and after your initial lesson.

Prepare for your first lesson

Before your first class, make sure to review these resources:
 

• Lesson Plan: This document (linked in each lesson’s Teaching materials section) details the lesson’s learning objectives, gives a description of each video, and lists sample questions that you can ask the class before, during, and after the lesson.
  
  Make a copy of the lesson plan and, if you wish, customize it to meet your needs. See the Adapt Applied Digital Skills for Your Class article in the Help Center for additional ways to customize a lesson.
   
• Sample Project: This shows you what the end result of a lesson might look like. Review the sample project that is created in the lesson. A link to the sample project can be found in the lesson plan, which is linked in each lesson’s Teaching materials section.
  
  Decide if you will have students complete the project as it is, adjust it to another subject area, or align it more with what you are currently teaching. See the Adapt Applied Digital Skills for Your Class article in the Help Center for additional information.
   
• Videos: Each lesson is made up of a series of videos. Preview them and note if there are skills in the lesson that students may find challenging. This could mean beginner skills, such as wrapping text or more advanced skills, such as data validation and conditional formatting.
  
  You can also view the accessibility options included with each video, including a transcript, Closed Captions, and the ability to make a video move faster or slower. 

Then, make sure your class is set up for success:
 

• We recommend that each student has their own computer with an internet connection and a set of headphones, but students can also share computers if needed.
   
• The curriculum is best accessed from a laptop or desktop computer, or a tablet with a separate keyboard. On any of these hardware options, make sure you are using an up-to-date web browser for the optimal experience. Students will need to sign in to their Google account or create one. 
  
  If you do not have the required equipment for each student, see the Handle Issues with Technology article in the Help Center for tips on sharing computers, using alternative activities, etc.
   
• Be sure all technology and websites you will need are working properly. Anticipate potential issues that may arise during class time and prepare backup plans. See the Handle Issues with Technology article in the Help Center for additional information.
   
• For group projects, think about planning groups before the lesson. Planning groups is a great time saver and helps ensure smooth transitions throughout the lesson.

Teach your first lesson

When you are ready to teach your first class with Applied Digital Skills, follow these guidelines:

 

• Before students watch the videos, review the potentially advanced skills that you noted and preview terms and concepts they will see in the lesson that may be unfamiliar or difficult. See the  Monitor Student Progress article in the Help Center for additional information.
   
• Use the introductory questions found in most lesson plans to generate interest and gauge students’ prior knowledge.
   
• While students are watching the videos, monitor group dynamics (if applicable). Provide support if students seem stuck or indecisive on something, like selecting a topic for their project or performing a particular digital skill. Offer assistance or adapt the lesson as needed.
   
• Have early finishers work on one or more of the extension videos (or assign the extensions as a homework assignment).
   
• Use the closing questions in the lesson plan as an informal assessment of what students learned and to conclude the lesson. Review any terms and concepts that students learned in the lesson.

Wrap up your first lesson

After your class finishes their first lesson, follow these steps:
 

• Ask students to share their projects with you so you can give them feedback. They can share a link to their project right on the Applied Digital Skills website (look for the lesson video with a paperclip icon), and will also need to adjust the file’s sharing settings so that you can view, suggest, or edit the file. Use the customizable rubric to help you assess the project. Share a copy of the rubric with students before they turn in their projects.
   
• For middle/high school lessons, review student quiz results from your teacher dashboard. Answer keys for each quiz are at the bottom of the lesson plan.
   
• Reflect on what went well during the lesson and what you might change for next time. Contact the Applied Digital Skills team with any feedback about the lesson.
   
• Plan opportunities for students to continue to use the digital skills they learned and practiced in the lesson.
   
• Share your students’ work with the larger school community. For example, you can put student work in a school newsletter or share it with other teachers at a professional development meeting.
   
• Finally, plan your next Applied Digital Skills lesson!