Digital Learning Resources: Materials for K-12 Classrooms
Author: Rick Phelan
Published: 06.24.13
Digital learning resources can help teachers meet the instructional goals contained in the new Common Core Standards and fill the gaps that outdated textbooks and reading materials have left in Sonoma County classrooms. When you consider the printed material that teachers currently have available, there are significant reasons to look online for learning resources.
- Many California public schools are working with outdated textbooks that refer to Bill Clinton as our current president and Pluto as a planet.
- Existing textbooks include lessons aligned to the 1997 California standards, but schools are required to fully implement the Common Core Standards by 2014-15. Many schools are already beginning the transition, but without properly aligned textbooks.
- Elementary reading instruction now calls for a blend of expository and narrative passages, but over 80% of existing reader series are in a narrative format. Reading experts say that narrative stories don’t prepare students for the demands of content area reading in secondary grades.
But it is not only that new digital resources are more up to date. They can also engage and inspire learners of all ages, abilities, and needs in a way that printed texts can’t. They are a vital resource for 21st schools as they transition to Common Core State Standards.
With digital learning resources, students have access to multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats – portable document files, web pages, and electronic books. They can reference historical documents, maps, digital photographs, animated video demonstrations, and entire online courses. Costs for digital learning resources range from “open education resources” offered at no charge to subscription-based materials where schools pay a fee for access.
Three Great Starting Points for Digital Resources
California Learning Resource Network (CLRN) | Link
The California Learning Resource Network (CLRN) is a clearinghouse for digital learning resources. Educators can find materials that have been reviewed by teachers for California classrooms. Search options allow users to look for digital materials by subject, grade, and/or Common Core Standard. Indexed digital learning materials include Open Education Resources (free websites, tablet apps, Web 2.0 tools) and Online Course Reviews.
CK-12 Flexbooks | Link
CK-12 offers free standards-aligned materials that teachers can customize. Topic areas include biology, chemistry, English, history, mathematics, economics, and SAT preparation. Educators can search for digital materials by grade or subject.
HippoCampus | Link
SCOE has formed a partnership with HippoCampus to give Sonoma County schools free access to high-quality digital media content in mathematics, science, and history/social science. HippoCampus is a project of the Monterey Institute for Technology and Education (MITE). It offers multimedia lessons and course materials to help students with core instruction, homework, and study. Lessons and courses can be browsed or searched via topic area.
More digital learning resources can be found at SCOE’s Digital Learning Resources web page.
Blog: Technology for Learners
