Net Smart

The book this week read about the five Net Smart Literacies -  attention, crap detection, participation, collaboration and network smarts. Attention focused on how to be mindful when using technology, especially the internet. Crap detection, focused on how to consume news or information online with acritical eye. Participation and collaboration discussed how we can both participate online and how the internet can be a great tool for supporting collaboration. Finally, network smarts discussed how online networks have structures, and how we as consumers need to be aware how these structures can help to develop stronger connections among people.

The part of this book that gave me the most ideas for lessons I might do in my own classroom was the first section on attention. I really like how Rheingold outlined how with diligent work we can create habits that help us pay more attention to how and when we’re using the internet. I think a lot of my students could benefit from practicing some of the strategies around mindfulness that he talks about. After reading this I want to try and design a mini-lesson where I teach students some of these mindfulness strategies.