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Digital Literacy Framework

Purpose & Vision

The A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework is thoughtfully crafted to establish a shared and progressive set of Digital Literacy skills, enabling both students and teachers to actively participate in advanced curricular offerings, educational programs, teaching methods, and school-wide frameworks.

At A-JIS, our dedication to curriculum delivery centers around the concept of Blended Learning, combining online and in-person approaches, to empower students to assume responsibility for their learning, foster curiosity, and encourage collaborative learning experiences.

About the Framework

In line with the IB continuum based approach to skills and concepts, the A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework has also been developed in consideration of the continuum of skills and conceptual development along which students travel during their learning journey at A-JIS.

As such, mastery levels associated with specific skills in the Framework often span across multiple grade levels, and the introduction of related skills and concepts have been organised in consideration and support of one another. Skills and concepts introduced earlier in the Digital Literacy continuum provide a foundation upon which future skills can be built.

Benefits

How it's Made

The A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework is a living document developed in collaboration with and reliant on feedback from the following School Community member groups:

Students
Parents
Teachers
Pedagogical Leadership
Technology Specialists

Ultimately, Curriculum Coordinators of the individual Programmes (PYP, MYP, DP, GLD) along with school Principals are responsible for determining which specific Digital Literacy Skills make it into the Framework, but these decisions are always based on feedback from School Community members and designed to best support the needs of students.

ISTE Standards

The specific Digital Literacy skills included in the A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework are built around and categorized according to the ISTE Standards for Students.

What is ISTE?

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is an international education technology organisation which aims to:

"...inspire the creation of solutions and connections that improve opportunities for all learners by delivering: practical guidance, evidence-based professional learning, virtual networks, thought-provoking events and the ISTE Standards."

Specifically, we reference the ISTE Standards for Students as a conceptual and organizational tool for categorizing Digital Literacy Skills within the A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework.

Why ISTE Standards?

We use the ISTE Standards as a reference tool for development of the A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework for the following reasons:

The ISTE Standards are globally minded, globally recognized, and globally utilized by a variety of education institutions around the world. This aligns with the international context and global focus of Aoba-Japan International School.

ISTE provides a curriculum agnostic set of tools and standards which can be adapted for use to suit the specific pedagogical and technological context of a given school.

The A-JIS Blended Learning Environment places specific emphasis on the innovative leveraging of technology to improve student outcomes, and the ISTE Standards provide practical approaches and guidance aligned with technology integrated pedagogy.

The overall student outcomes, pedagogical approaches, and technology integration approaches inherent in the ISTE Standards align closely with the objectives of the A-JIS Pedagogical Framework, Blended Learning Environment, and the Mission, Vision, and Values of the school.

The ISTE Standards take into consideration Digital Literacy skills and concepts from a whole school perspective, and reference multiple stakeholder groups within the school responsible for contributing to student success including students, educators, school leaders and more.

Using the Framework

Informing Curriculum and Instruction

The primary objective of the A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework is to establish a cohesive point of reference for students, educators, support staff, and parents that serves as a means to guarantee that the principles and proficiencies encompassed within it actively contribute to the holistic development of students throughout the academic curriculum. Aligned with the existing curriculum, this framework facilitates students' active participation in the learning process, thereby fostering the acquisition of digital literacy skills and effectively preparing them for life beyond Aoba. Another function of the A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework is to provide valuable data on students' proficiency levels in specific digital literacy skills. During each academic year, student's are responsible for self-assessing their confidence in digital literacy skills by answering survey questions corresponding to their programme level. This method allows students to self assess their confidence vis a vis digital literacy skills and concepts in order to assist them in personal goal setting and so that school faculty can provided individualized support to students where needed. Through collaborative analysis of this data, stakeholders can identify areas of improvement and align their teaching strategies with the standards set by our Digital Literacy Framework. Teachers also gain insights into their students' abilities, enabling them to tailor their instruction accordingly. This dynamic process ensures that our curriculum remains responsive to the ever-changing digital landscape.

Consistency in Digital Literacy Instruction

Adhering to the A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework as a foundational guide, teachers integrate digital literacy skills and concepts within the curriculum and instructional practices in an interdisciplinary fashion. This approach ensures that every student, irrespective of their academic level, receives a comprehensive and uniform education in digital literacy. As students progress throughout their educational journey, they are afforded the opportunity to progressively develop their proficiencies, thereby establishing a robust groundwork in digital literacy that will be of significant benefit in their future pursuits. In embracing digital literacy through the A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework, we empower our students to become active participants in the digital world. They gain the skills to use technology effectively and ethically, critically evaluate digital information, protect their online identities, and contribute positively to the digital community.

Flexibility, Integration, and Alignment with A-JIS Core Assessment & IB Curriculum

The Digital Literacy Framework is intended to align with our core assessment principles in mind, including the areas of learning processes, communication, teamwork, and critical and creative thinking. It complements our broader educational goals by equipping students with the skills to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world. Our approach to integrating the Digital Literacy Framework provides flexibility to teachers. They have the freedom to decide how, when, and where each standard is integrated into their lessons. During unit planning, teachers use data from the self-assessments to select skills from the framework that, in combination with the four core principles and IB's approaches to learning, advance student digital literacy. Furthermore, our technology integration team supports teachers by providing strategies and resources to effectively incorporate digital literacy into their teaching. As long as all standards for the respective grade level are covered within the academic year, teachers have the autonomy to design their lessons in ways that best meet their students' needs.

Implementation

At its core, we establish precise learning standards that ensure the cohesiveness and progression of our digital literacy education. These standards provide students with a structured pathway, equipping them with the essential digital skills and knowledge needed to thrive in our ever-evolving digital world.

Assessment and Confidence Surveys:

To evaluate the effectiveness of our digital literacy instruction and gauge students' confidence in various digital skills, we administer tailored confidence surveys for different grade levels and programme groups:

K5 through Grade 3 (Lower PYP)
Grade 4 through 6 (Upper PYP)
Grade 7 through 9 (Middle School)
Grade 10 through 12 (Senior School)

Each program group follows a developmental trajectory of skills that accumulates throughout their education at Aoba. Our survey invites students to self-assess their confidence in areas aligned with the Digital Literacy Framework. This survey serves a dual purpose:

It establishes and continually enriches a data repository, evolving over time into a valuable resource at both the school-wide and individual levels.
Insights derived from this data empower students to reflect on their strengths in Digital Literacy. Simultaneously, it enables teachers to provide targeted support to students. Identifying trends within this data informs the adaptation and enhancement of our digital literacy education.

By weaving together the A-JIS Digital Literacy Framework, confidence surveys, and personalized developmental pathways, we ensure that our students receive an education surpassing the demands of the digital age. At A-JIS, our commitment is to nurture confident, proficient, and digitally literate individuals prepared to excel in an interconnected world.

Digital Literacy Framework

This following link serves to document the Digital Literacy Framework associated levels for each grade. If you want to learn more about the Digital Literacy Framework, please review the whole-school framework.

Upper Primary Years Program (G4-6)

Middle Years Program (G7-9)

Senior School (G10-12)

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