Course Syllabus

Instructor: Ms. Cotta

Location: Library

Digital Literacy Overview

The purpose of this Digital Literacy course is to empower students to become responsible users, producers, and communicators in a digital environment. Becoming life-long learners and well-rounded individuals is an important goal for students and teachers to work towards.

Digital Literacy is an independent, online course developed to help students prepare for 21st century learning. It is a district requirement for all secondary students to take the Digital Literacy course. Most students get this course in 8th grade with a full nine weeks session.  You are being asked to complete this course outside your school day, so the course is condensed. It's important to take your learning seriously.

Course Description

This is a survey course that introduces students to many important topics and issues with the use of digital media. Students will study concepts related to citizenship and online ethics, safe practices, and using online tools responsibly. They will apply technology skills in a responsible, effective, and ethical manner. 

Outline of Units Studied During the Quarter

• Media and My Life: What's the Balance?
• How to Stay Healthy using Digital Media
• Citizenship: Digital Etiquette and Online Ethics
• Dealing with Cyber Bullies, Haters, and Trolls
• Over-exposed: How to Handle Sexting Pressures
• Intellectual Property: Copyright, Fair Use, & Citing Sources
• Internet Safety & Security

Essential Functions: Your Responsibilities In This Class

1. Be polite and respectful in all your communications.
2. Meet the course end deadline given to you by Mr. Painter (approximately 1 month or the beginning of OCTOBER if you started the school year at PHS).
3. Work on this course consistently each week. You have approximately 18 assignments to complete.  Some are quite brief and others are more in-depth. At the minimum, you should complete 4 assignments a  week.
4. Make back-up copies of your writing in Google docs before submitting in CANVAS (it's possible to lose your work otherwise).
5. Be honest. Copying and pasting answers without correct citation is plagiarism and will result in a “zero.”
6. Ask for help if you need it, and have a good attitude to make the most of your own learning! 

Grade Evaluation 

1. Individual assignments are P/F and you will be given instructions, as well as expectations, for a passing score on each.
2. Although the course is pass/fail, you will gain value from the course if you fully engage with each assignment and the accompanying resources fully.  
3. Please read carefully each assigned article and fully develop your responses in short answers or paragraph form, unless directed otherwise.  
4. Specific responses must prove your learning and NOT be vague or general answers (this does not give evidence of your learning from the text). 
5. You will be asked to re-do work if it is not completed at a sufficient level, meaning you must show your connection to the topic as well as an understanding of the required readings.  
6. Tip: do it well the first time, so you don't have to do it twice.

For Parents

Please visit Digital Literacy Resources for Parents found on my website (link can be found on the high school site, too):  https://sites.google.com/a/pcsd.us/phs-library/digital-literacy.

Contact Me

Please feel free to call or email me if you have questions or suggestions. If you leave a message with the school secretary, I will return your call as soon as possible.  Both parents and students may email me at ccotta@pcsd.us. Students should visit me before or after school to get help.