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What can I do on a Chromebook? (for Microsoft Office® courses)

by with No Comment Career & Tech Ed

What can I do on a Chromebook? (for Microsoft Office® courses)

Abigail Hess

Product Marketing Manager • Career and Technical Education • National Geographic Learning | Cengage

Teaching Microsoft Office® on a Chromebook is not ideal, but thousands of teachers are forced to teach this software course on machines that can’t download the software due to e-learning models this year. Luckily, Cengage offers tools that make learning Microsoft Office® and preparing for Microsoft Office Specialist and Expert exams possible this year including Office ONLINE projects, Microsoft Office® simulations, and Digital Literacy skills.

The problem – no hard drive means no downloaded Office 365, 2019 or 2016 access.

Traditionally, Microsoft Office® courses are taught in a business computer lab, usually using PCs or Mac desktop computers. As more and more school districts adopt one-one Chromebooks, administrators may not foresee how this impacts technology and business applications education. By definition, Chromebooks do not have a hard drive and cannot download the full versions of real-world software students would likely use in college or their future careers. For Microsoft Office® teachers, this means their students can only access about 10% of functionality they usually could on a desktop or PC. Chromebooks can provide access to Office Online, the browser-based version of the software, but not the full versions of Office 365, 2019, or 2016.

But, 10% functionality doesn’t mean students can only complete 10% of the course.

Luckily, Cengage’s two digital platforms for Microsoft Office® mastery offer a realistic simulation of the software with auto-graded tasks aligned to Microsoft Office Software Certifications through the specialist and expert levels. Even on a Chromebook, students can access Cengage powered:

• Interactive eBooks for Shelly Cashman, Illustrated, or the New Perspectives series with annotation & study tools.

  • • SAM-powered Training & Exam Simulations: These offer a realistic, fully explorable simulation of Microsoft Office® Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Access with embedded direction and videos, for students to practice new skills aligned to MOS exams, as well as “Apply” modes where they prove their skills without the help, grading for any available method to complete the task (keyboard shortcut, toolbar, etc.)
  • • MOS Certification Exam Simulations: These simulations offer a realistic MOS exam test-taking experience for the Associate levels of PowerPoint & Access and Associate & Expert levels of Word and Excel within the fully explorable simulations of the software. Students prove skills in a timed environment with mini case problems similar to what they will see on the MOS exam, aligned to MOS tasks.
  • • NEW! 8 Office ONLINE auto-graded SAM Projects have been added to Office 2019 Cengage courses that offer auto-graded projects that work with the free, ONLINE version of MS Office Word, PowerPoint and Excel. These projects were designed to address the needs of students who only have access to Chromebooks, or don’t have the ability to access full MS Office software while at home.

*These projects will NOT be automatically added to the MindTap Learning Path.  Instructors will need to use +Add / Create and search for “Office Online”. Teachers can watch this video to for steps to add the Online Projects to your MindTap course as well as other updates from the July 25th release.

Business Applications should be supplemented with Digital Literacy Skills that will improve the online learning experience.

Cengage courses include access to additional digital literacy content crucial for today’s learner and business professional that are fully compatible with Chromebooks.  Technology for Success offers an entire course of digital literacy content INCLUDED in Cengage Office 2019 online courses or as a standalone course. Supplement and enhance business applications courses video-based trainings & exams as well a Critical Thinking Challenges that offer auto-graded branching scenarios, including one on using video conference solutions and another on digital privacy and security.

Digital Literacy content is available for the following modules for Office 2019 courses:

  • • Module 1: Impact of Digital Technology
    • Module 2: The Web
    • Module 3: Computer Hardware
    • Module 4: Operating Systems and File Management
    • Module 5: Software and Apps
    • Module 6: Security and Safety
    • Module 7: Digital Media
    • Module 8: Program and App Use and Development
    • Module 9: Web Development
    • Module 10: Networking
    • Module 11: Digital Communication
    • Module 12: Digital Transformation: Cloud, E-commerce, and Artificial Intelligence
    • Module 13: Databases
    • Module 14: Digital Ethics and Lifestyle

Real-world, branching scenarios are auto-graded and perfect for video discussions.

*Ask your Sales Consultant about options for Microsoft Office® and digital literacy online solutions for a review copy, online trial, or a quote.

Related posts: Why teach Office 365? And Corinne Hoisington’s webinar, “Why Teach Office 365 (and not Google Only) in your Business Class?

Imagine Tomorrow

Tomorrow will not look like today. The way you teach, connect and engage students will continue to evolve. Whether you are continuing distance learning or heading back to classrooms, or a hybrid, we are here to help support you: curriculum, digital support, technical support, and professional training. National Geographic Learning is ready to help your classroom prepare for tomorrow.
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Why Teach Office 365?

by with No Comment Career & Tech Ed

Why Teach Office 365?

Abigail Hess

Associate Product Marketing Manager • Career and Technical Education • National Geographic Learning | Cengage

Many of our business and computing teachers have been asked to consider changing what they teach for business applications with many schools adopting Chromebooks and other digital devices. How can Microsoft 365 can be used in the classroom and for e-learning? What technology skills are the most crucial to prepare students for college and careers? There is no one better to talk about these things with us than our author, Corinne Hoisington. Corinne is a full-time professor of Information Systems Technology at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, Virginia, with more than 25 years of teaching experience.

WATCH author and Computer Science Professor/Teacher Corinne Hoisington walk through some amazing new features of Microsoft 365, the data behind why students need Microsoft Office skills, options for districts to purchase, how to engage business applications students, and much more in her virtual webinar: Why Teach Microsoft 365 (and not Google Only) in your Business Class? with Corinne Hoisington.

Below are key points and links from her presentation.

1. Cengage CAREs White Paper on student readiness for college digital literacy skills

On a basic technology skills test including skills like renaming folders or adding an attachment to emails, the average score for rising college freshman as a 44%, while 87% of students said they never learned any Microsoft Office skills outside of class.

computing skills

“Millennials struggle to use digital tools and networks to solve relatively simple problems…We need to challenge the assumption that students are digital natives, so colleges can better serve them.” –Corinne Hoisington, Central Virignia Commuity College

2. Microsoft Certification for Teachers and Students:

  • • Become a Microsoft Certified Educator — Available for Office 2019 and Office 365, when students pass 3 Associate Exams, they are awarded the Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate certification. When they earn that tile and pass three additional Expert Exams, they are
  • • Get your Students Certified with Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) — Available for Office 2019 and Office 365, when students pass 3 Associate Exams, they are awarded the Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate certification. When they earn that tile and pass three additional Expert Exams, they are awarded the Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert certification.

3. Best Jobs in America

GlassDoor List: Best Jobs in America shows the current top jobs for salary, job satisfaction, and current openings and guess what? Skills learned in business and Microsoft Office classes are required for almost all of them.

4. What are the differences between versions of Office?

  • • Microsoft Apps Online—free version of Office that can be used on any browser. Can be accessed on Chromebooks, but only offer 10% functionality of the full, downloaded software.
  • • Microsoft Office 2019—sold as a one-time purchase for a single computer download for PC’s and Macs and includes Office Desktop apps like Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
  • • Microsoft 365—subscription service that gives full access to productivity tools and Office applications like Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook, but also others like OneNote, Sway, Teams, Publisher and much more. With Microsoft 365, you always have access to the most updated version of all applications including new AI features that Corinne highlights in her webinar. Learn more about Microsoft 365 for Education here.

5. Which version(s) of the software should I use to teach Business Applications?

National Geographic Learning/Cengage curriculum and online solutions for teaching Business Applications are aligned to all three versions, but assume students have access to Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office 2019 on a Mac or PC that allows for the full, downloaded version of the software. Students using Microsoft Apps Online will not be able to practice most features or skills needed for the workplace or MOS certification. However, students with only internet access can complete simulated trainings & exams for each task as well as MOS Exam simulations, which offer realistic practice for the certification exam.

6. What are some affordable devices schools can purchase that can work with Microsoft 365?

Microsoft Education offers devices starting at $219* (*while supplies last) that run applications students will need to know how to use for college and careers.

Access on-demand and live, weekly trainings by Corinne Hoisington with tips for engaging students with technology education. REGISTER HERE

*Access the recording of Corinne Hoisington’s webinar here.

Corinne Hoisington is a full-time professor of Information Systems Technology at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, Virginia, with more than 25 years of teaching experience. Corinne travels over 200,000 miles a year delivering keynote addresses to college and university professors and K-12 educators in over 70 cities worldwide for customers such as the Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft Canada Camp 21 International Events, Cengage Learning, ByteSpeed, Capital One International Bank, Executive LIVE in London and the international South by Southwest (SXSW) event in Austin, Texas. Professor Hoisington is the recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in Computer Programming. Corinne has authored over 30 textbooks with Cengage Learning/National Geographic Learning on topics such as Outlook 2019, Office 2019, Microsoft Windows, Android Boot Camp Java, Technology Now, and Visual Basic 2017.

Watch other webinars by Corinne Hoisington:

Imagine Tomorrow

Tomorrow will not look like today. The way you teach, connect and engage students will continue to evolve. Whether you are continuing distance learning or heading back to classrooms, or a hybrid, we are here to help support you: curriculum, digital support, technical support, and professional training. National Geographic Learning is ready to help your classroom prepare for tomorrow.
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Why Teach Office 365 (and not Google only) in your Business Class?

by with No Comment Webinar - Career & Tech Ed

Why Teach Office 365 (and not Google only) in your Business Class?

Tap into the latest information to assist in guiding your students into careers that are meaningful, high paying, and have massive opportunity. What college majors and technical programs have the highest opportunities and the highest unemployment in the next decade? We must provide solid guidance to our students right now. Robots, with intelligence, are advancing into beneficial, life-saving, machines for assisting us in our everyday lives. The challenge is determining how we, as educators, can best train the next generation of students for a future that is still evolving?

Corinne Hoisington

Professor of Information Systems Technology
Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, Virginia

Join Corinne Hoisington, one of the Shelly Cashman authors, for a stroll down the path to employability that starts with your Office class (click here for a sneak peek). School administrators sometimes take it for granted that because your students grew-up using technology—with 20% beginning use between ages 5 and 8—that they are ready for college and employment, but not so fast! Learn about crucial college and career success skills that students will not learn if they are not taught in school (online or in-person).

In this webinar replay, you will learn:

  • Why it is important to teach the full Microsoft Office 365 product
  • Why Google classroom will not help students in the business world
  • Latest features of Office 365 like the PowerPoint Presenter Coach, PowerPoint Live, Excel Money (brand new feature), and the new Editor tool
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What the AP® Computer Science Principles Course is all About. Revising the 7 Big Ideas for Practical use in the Lab

by with No Comment Advanced, Honors, and ElectivesCareer & Tech Ed

What the AP® Computer Science Principles Course is all About. Revising the 7 Big Ideas for Practical use in the Lab

Abigail Hess

Associate Product Marketing Manager • Career and Technical Education • National Geographic Learning | Cengage

View an overview of what should be included in the AP®  Computer Science Principles Course, some examples of in-class activities and tips and tricks to engage students from our author, Dr. G. Michael Schneider with a recording of his virtual webinar “New Ideas in CS: What the New AP Computer Science Principles Course is All About.”

What are the core principles covered in the AP® Computer Science Principles course?

The first question Dr. G. Michael Schneider asks of his computer science students is: “What is computer science the study of?” He gets many answers, usually that computer science is the study of:

  • • Computers
    • Programming
    • Programming Languages
    • The uses and applications of computers

All of which are wrong. Both Dr. Schneider and the AP® Computer Science Principles Course define computers science instead, as the study of algorithms.

The AP® Exam asks students to master 7 Big Ideas, including:

  • • Creativity
    • Abstraction
    • Data and Information
    • Algorithms
    • Programming
    • The Internet
    • Global Impact

Dr. Schneider revises these big ideas with the following GREAT ideas in computer science.

1. Algorithms are the single most fundamental concept in CS.

Seeing as Computer Science is the study of algorithms, teachers should be cognizant that an algorithmic approach is the focus of any CS course.

2. CS concepts are interrelated and form a coherent discipline.

Structure your course in a way that connects the course’s 7 Big Ideas and scaffolds learning so that students can process new information and see the big picture. The image below offers one possible organization for the course.

3. CS concepts are learned by both listening and by doing.

Dr. Schneider encourages his students to understand that computer science is a laboratory science just like Chemistry, Biology, and physics. Laboratories are not limited to programming exercises but can be used to demonstrate fundamental concepts in virtually all areas of the discipline. He encourages teachers to use the lab manuals and software that comes with your textbook to provide hands-on experiments in a range of areas. Access the recording of Dr. Schneider’s webinar for several examples of these hands-on labs here.

4. Abstraction is a central idea that must be stressed.

This is the fundamental technique for managing complexity in the design of both hardware and software computer systems. Dr. Schnedier encourages teachers to use analogies to give students a better understanding of abstraction, for example, an automobile dashboard or how it is used in circuit design.

5. Computer science ≠ programming.

Remember that the AP® Computer Science Principles course is NOT the AP® Computer Science, A course that teachers object-oriented programming and Java at the college level. Focus on the programming section of the course should be on how programming relates to the fundamentals concepts students have been learning already. For example:

  • • Converting algorithms from pseudocode into a HLL
    • Compiling HLL programs into ML and their execution on a Von Neumann machine using the fetch/decode/execute cycle
    • Different types of HLL—declarative, OO, Functional, Parallel and special purpose.

6. CS applications are not magic boxes. They are built upon the basic concepts of the field.

The reason why students should be studying the other Big Ideas is because the important advances of computer science are built upon the bedrock of fundamentals principles. Share examples of how very engaging topics like AI, Graphics, and Supercomputers were able to be built because of the fundamental topics students are learning.

7. Advances in information technology bring important professional responsibilities to its practitioners.

The Global Impact portion of the course should focus on current and legal, moral, and ethical issues related to computer science. This kind of discussion is often left out of Computer Science courses due to lack of time, so Dr. Schneider encourages teachers to make time for discussion of these topics, such as:

  • • Personal privacy, unauthorized sharing of information
    • Cyberbullying
    • Ownership of Intellectual Property
    • Fake news, voter hacking, and the impact of social networking and information technology on governance
    • ACM and IEEE Professional Code of Conduct

Dr. G. Michael Schneider is a retired professor of Computer Science. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin and taught at the U. of Minnesota for eight years, Macalester College in St. Paul for twenty-nine years, and, following his retirement, was a Visiting Professor of CS at Columbia University. He was on the ACM/IEEE CS Curriculum 2001 committee, Vice-Chair of ACM SIGCSE, and a member of the Computer Science Accreditation Board (CSAB). He has been awarded four Fulbright Grants to teach and do research overseas and has authored nine textbooks on computer science

Watch the full recording of Dr. Schneider’s Webinar, “New Ideas in CS: What the New AP Computer Science Principles Course is All About” here.

Learn more about Invitation to Computer Science, our curriculum for the AP Computer Science Principles course or request access to MindTap, the online solution, for Invitation to Computer Science here.

Sources:

Schneider, Michael. “New Ideas in CS: What the New AP Computer Science Principles Course is all About.” National Geographic Learning Virtual Learning Series. 18 Oct. 2018.

*AP, Advanced Placement and Pre-AP are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, these products.

Imagine Tomorrow

Tomorrow will not look like today. The way you teach, connect and engage students will continue to evolve. Whether you are continuing distance learning or heading back to classrooms, or a hybrid, we are here to help support you: curriculum, digital support, technical support, and professional training. National Geographic Learning is ready to help your classroom prepare for tomorrow.
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3 Hot Topics for Web Design and Development Courses

by with No Comment Career & Tech Ed

3 Hot Topics for Web Design and Development Courses

Abigail Hess

Associate Product Marketing Manager • Career and Technical Education • National Geographic Learning | Cengage

A new edition of RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN WITH HTML5 & CSS, 9e by Jessica Minnick published in February of 2020 and includes up-to-date practices for designing optimum layouts for a variety of devices. Read through some hot topics to include in any web design/development high school course.

Focus on Responsive Design

Understanding responsive design is a key skill for students learning web programming as most businesses and careers have worked to re-build their sites to ensure functionality on smartphones, iPads, and other devices. Students will most likely learn how to build basic websites first and should then revisit their initial projects to adapt them to be responsive offers great value for future careers. Key skills include:

  • • Fluid Layout: “A fluid layout or grid applies proportional size measurements to the webpage wireframe and content so that the content stretches, shrinks, and grows as the size of the viewport changes” (Minnick, 219).
  • • Responsive or flexible images: “responsive images shrink and grow based on the size of the viewport” (Minnick, 219).
  • • Media queries: “Media queries allow the webpage developer to detect the approximate pixel size of the current viewport” (Minnick, 219).
  • • Conducting Mobile-Friendly Tests

Include practice on creating interactivity with CSS and JavaScript

Modern websites usually include some form of interactivity, whether that includes gamification, rewards & badging, ratings, quizzes, or polls, etc. Help your students add value to their resume and their websites by including these key skills:

  • • Create a Hamburger Menu: Hamburger icons are a modern method to help users navigate a site on mobile devices, rather than vertical or horizontal toolbar (Minnick, 237). Students will learn to use JavaScript to build these menus and make them functional.
  • • Create CSS Transform and Animations: “CSS can be used to move elements on a webpage, change the color of an element, or change the appearance of an element” (Minnick, 510).
  • • Create JavaScript Files: “Developers can use JavaScript to validate form information, send an alert to a user, change HTML content, show or hide content, animate elements, and much more” (Minnick, 517).

Ask students to practice skills by asking them to imagine their own business

Students will connect to the concepts if they get the chance to create a realistic business with their website. By asking students to build sites for a business, it allows you to tie in skills that industry needs and also includes chances to understand how web programmers may work with clients. Some key activities to make the business real may include:

  • • Build an “About Use” page: The “About Us” portion of a business website gives the chance to create a company mission and asks the student to image the spirit, goals, services, and audience for the pages they will be designing (Minnick, 364).
  • • Embed a map: “ Many businesses include a location map embedded within their website so visitors have a clear view of the business location” (Minnick, 510).
  • • Include Social Media Icons: “Most businesses that use social media display social media icons and links on their website” (Minnick, 510). Not only is this a real-world business process, but this makes a site interactive and engages students.

For more ideas, step-by-step projects, and curriculum for your courses, see Responsive Web Design with HTML5 & CSS, 9e, our new curriculum for teaching HTML programming and web design courses or request access to MindTap, the online solution with auto-graded coding labs, for Responsive Web Design with HMTL5 & CSS, 9e here.

Author of RESPONSIVE WEB DESIGN WITH HTML5 & CSS, 9e Jessica Minnick is an Information Technology instructor at Pasco-Hernando State College in New Port Richey, Florida. She has been teaching information technology courses for more than a decade. Prior to becoming an educator, she worked in the marketing and information technology field for the private sector, gaining more than 15 years of web design experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management Information Systems, and a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from the University of South Florida.

Sources:

Minnick, Jessica. Responsive Web Design with HTML5 &CSS. Cengage Learning, 2020.

Vilner, Toav. “7 Tips for Making Your Website Content Interactive.” Marketo Marketing Blog – Best Practices and Thought Leadership, Marketo, 21 Nov. 2017, https://blog.marketo.com/2017/11/7-tips-making-website-content-interactive.html

Imagine Tomorrow

Tomorrow will not look like today. The way you teach, connect and engage students will continue to evolve. Whether you are continuing distance learning or heading back to classrooms, or a hybrid, we are here to help support you: curriculum, digital support, technical support, and professional training. National Geographic Learning is ready to help your classroom prepare for tomorrow.
Learn More
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Emerging Issues in Digital Citizenship

by with No Comment Career & Tech EdDigital ExperienceInterdisciplinary

Emerging Issues in Digital Citizenship

Abigail Hess

Associate Product Marketing Manager • Career and Technical Education • National Geographic Learning | Cengage

If you google “Digital Citizenship Activities,” you’ll find thousands of videos, examples and suggestions. Use Google Scholar for the same search, and you’ll be practicing just a small piece of the World-Wide-Web-sized library of skills that relate to Digital Citizenship. While there are many, many sets of standards out there created to ensure that graduating students will be able to responsibly and safely use technology, it should go without saying that what we define as “Digital Citizenship” will change constantly as our relationship to technology changes and the availability of new technologies arrive each day. How and what should we be teaching digital natives, who are raised on iPhones and iPads and are often more apt to fix a technology issue in the classroom before tech support arrives at your door?

  1. The changing Course 1927 to Now: Typewriting to Keyboarding to Computing to Computer Science
  2. “Digital Native” does not Mean Students are Digital Literate
  3. Browse Curriculum to Engage Students in Digital Citizenship
  4. Explore National Standards Related to Digital Citizenship

1. The Changing Course 1927 to Now: Typewriting to Keyboarding to Computing to Computer Science

Our sister company, Southwestern Publishing began with the first edition of 20th Century Touch Typewriting over in 1927; a typewriting practice text that transformed to Century21 Computer Skills and Applications in the year 2019. This is a course that transformed from learning to use a typewriter to learning to key on a QWERTY keyboard and expanded to using databases, word processing systems, spreadsheets and presentations, as well as conducting internet research, using technology to problem-solve through career-related cases and basic hardware/software skills. In the last decade, keyboarding courses have moved down from high school to middle school and elementary as one-one schools require students to complete state testing online.

Instead, high school students are more apt to take courses like AP Computer Science Principles, which has grown 184% since its launch in 2016 (College Board). Or they are taking courses in Graphic Arts learning to use digital media-based technologies. The Arts, A/V Technology & Communications career cluster has grown more than any other Career Cluster of the last 10 years with the exception of STEM (Perkins Web Portal). Long-time CTSO organizations like BPA, DECA and FBLA which have offered word-processing-based competitions for the last 10-20 years, are now adding new competitive areas that reflect the increasing use of technology in business like:

  • • MIS (Management Information Systems)
  • • Computer Networking & Security
  • • Object-Oriented Programming
  • • Advanced Databases
  • • 3-D Animation
  • • Computer Problem-Solving

Code.org has done an amazing job tracking state policy and data on students taking computer science courses with a study showing 90% of parents want their children to study computer science while only 45% of high schools even offer it (Code.org).  And this organization as well as others are promoting newly updated CSTA Computer Science Standards for K-12 which goes beyond traditional Business apps like Microsoft Office or basic hardware—“What’s a mouse? A hard drive? A processor? Bits and bytes?”—and software—“What’s an operating system? Productivity and business software?”—to introductory programming, web development, digital ethics, networking, and IT security skills.

Using the CSTA standards, even kindergarteners are engaging in computational thinking. First grades are building programs. Second graders test and debug code—even if that’s with a block-based programming language like SCRATCH, students will be ready to dive deeper and start working with object-oriented languages by middle and high school. However, just because students are much more likely to be familiar with a variety of devices and have started computational thinking doesn’t mean that they come into middle school with the skills to use productivity tools like Google Docs, or Microsoft Office software appropriately for school, college and future careers.

2. “Digital Native” does not Mean Students are Digital Literate

Cengage CAREs (Cengage Computing Analytics and Research in Education) is an ongoing study to advocate for the need for computing and digital literacy courses and found that even today the average score of students entering college on a foundational computing exam was a 44%. This research was conducted in light of the growing trend of administrators in college and high school removing computing courses as mandatory requirements because of the perception that students were already coming to class with a vast experience and handle on new technologies.

While studies have shown that younger generations can type with two thumbs, faster on smart phones than older generations on keyboards may be even more ergonomic issues with the neck and shoulders and could lead to more grammatical errors or unprofessional communication (Baca, Washington Post). While students may grow up using mobile games, social media and surfing the internet, they still need to be taught how to use the power of the web responsibly and how to find reliable information (Sanchez). More and more teachers find that as students rely more and more on the internet for finding information, it can easily become method to find a correct answer and move on, rather than as a resource to build an argument and a means to learn beyond the current task at hand.

Additionally, students will not learn the skills they need to be successful for careers from personal technology use alone. Burning Glass Technologies uses big data to track real-time industry trends and required or recommended skills for careers across the globe from millions of job postings. Consistently the most sought for skills? Soft Skills and Spreadsheets. Two areas students will not learn on their own. Cengage CAREs research found that 86% students entering college were aware that business application skills like Microsoft Office are important to being successful in the work place and 87% had only ever learned Microsoft Office applications inside the classroom. Out of these same students, far less than 45% could complete basic spreadsheet tasks like merging and centering sells, using a SUM function, or building basic charts.

Beyond Microsoft Office, Burning Glass has found that the demand high-growth skills across many job openings is including a need for understanding of: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Natural Language Processing, Cloud Solutions, and Data Visualization—topics that students aren’t apt to discover on their own time.

3. Browse Curriculum to Engage Students in Digital Citizenship 

In a recent survey to hundreds of Computing teachers in higher ed and high school, we found that the key skills that teachers are considering adding to their digital literacy courses replicates the findings of Burning Glass with: Cloud Computing, E-Commerce, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analysis and Digital Ethics. Because of this, all Microsoft Office 2019 MindTap courses and our Technology for Success digital literacy title will include 3 NEW modules for the fall in addition to basic web development, software development and programming, networking and security, which have been added in recent years:

  • • NEW MODULE 12: Digital Transformation: Cloud, E-commerce, and AI 
  • • NEW MODULE 13: Databases (with Big Data Analytics)
  • • NEW MODULE 14: Digital Ethics and Lifestyle 

In summary, Digital Citizenship is not a result of a generation of Digital Natives. While students are entering middle and high school with new skills and a familiarity with digital devices, they are not learning crucial skills like productivity tools and business applications needed for academic and professional life outside of the classroom. They are not learning how to utilize technology to safely and responsibly research information and explore for solutions to real-world problems rather than answers to a worksheet. The future digital citizen will most likely still need to be able to utilize productivity software, practice internet safety and understanding the basics of hardware, software and networking. However, more and more jobs, entrepreneurial activities, and consumer intelligence will also require computational thinking, programming, web design, data analytics, e-commerce, IT security, digital media and artificial intelligence.

Request review access to online and print curriculum here.

While that is definitely way more than what the average student has learned in the past and today, examples are everywhere—from the way we research, to the way we shop, play and communicate with our friends and family. And you’ve got support! Organizations like LaunchCS offer training for even elementary teachers on introducing these crucial skills. Code.org hosts weekly webinars for CS inspiration and training. More and more states are introducing Computer Science standards and greatly increasing funding for teacher training and professional development and teachers interested in using online curriculum with virtual practice can always receive live trainings from Cengage Customer Success Specialists. Find your contact here.

Learn more about curriculum available for computing and information technology here.

4. Explore National Standards Related to Digital Citizenship

In addition some of the standards and trends already mentioned in this post, feel free to explore national standards that consider digital literacy skills that may be beneficial to graduate true digital citizens below.

Common Career Technical Core

Common Career Technical Corse standards meet the need of setting a high bar for CTE programs to graduate students who have mastered “Career Ready Practices” that would benefit any chances for employment in any industry across the 16 National Career Clusters. They are developed from a group effort from the educational sector, academic sector and industry. Including life skills like personal Health and financial well-being to ethical considerations and professional communication skills, the CCTC also requires that students learn to use technology “to enhance productivity.” These standards focus on students being able to use professional software and programs to solve real-world problems while understanding how to use the safely and ethically. These standards also acknowledge that technology and it’s uses change all the time and having the ability to be flexible and to be able to learn the value of new technologies is key.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Partnership for 21st Century skills framework also brings together professionals, educators, and researchers to create standards for a successful life and career after graduation. This framework incorporates Life & Career Skills, Learning & Innovation Skills, and Information, Media & Technology Skills, including:

  • • Information Literacy—accessing/evaluating, and using/managing information found online effectively
  • • Media Literacy—analyze existing media and create effective media for a variety of uses
  • • ICT (Information, Communications, and Technology) Literacy—use a variety of technologies effectively to research and/or communicate

IC3 Certification

The IC3 Digital Literacy Certification is extremely popular for high school students as it is designed to test introductory technology skills that are needed to be a successful digital consumer and employee across many industries. Endorsed by ISTE, SkillsUSA and the Global Digital Literacy Council, many CTE students take the exam to count as an industry aligned credential. The current Global Standard 5 version of the certification includes 3 exams focusing on:

  • • Computing Fundamentals—understanding different types of digital devices and their uses, hardware/software, basics of file usage, cloud computing and security.
  • • Living Online—responsible use of the internet, email and social media, and an understanding of online communication tools like online conferencing and streaming.
  • • Key Applications—introductory skills for Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint; not as comprehensive as a Microsoft Office Specialist or Expert certification on the software.

*Learn more about the MindTap course for IC3 Certification here or request review access.

CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards

Developed by computer science teachers in conjunction with CSTA teachers and administrators, members of code.org and other policy groups with the goal of bringing computer science education to all K-12 students. These standards go well beyond the basics of internet and software safety and ethics that digital citizenship usually entails, and expands what we consider to be crucial technology skills to a new core discipline. 7 Core Practices that students apply in every grade through computer science include:

  1. Fostering an inclusive computing culture
  2. Collaborating around computing
  3. Recognizing and defining computational problems
  4. Developing and using abstractions
  5. Creating computational artifacts
  6. Testing and refining computational artifacts
  7. Communicating about computing

Learn more about curriculum available for computing and information technology here.

Imagine Tomorrow

Tomorrow will not look like today. The way you teach, connect and engage students will continue to evolve. Whether you are continuing distance learning or heading back to classrooms, or a hybrid, we are here to help support you: curriculum, digital support, technical support, and professional training. National Geographic Learning is ready to help your classroom prepare for tomorrow.
Learn More
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15 Effective Online Learning Activities for Workforce and College Readiness

by with No Comment Career & Tech Ed

15 Effective Online Learning Activities for Workforce and College Readiness

Les Dlabay

Professor of Economics and Business, Emeritus • Co-author of Principles of Business

Online learning is new to most of us and may make us feel excited, challenge, worried, stressed, unsure and, really, the full range of emoji faces on our phones. Most educators are trained to teach in face-to-face environments because that may be the best way to teach. Hybrid teaching environments incorporate useful technologies to enhance the in-class experience, provide instant feedback and ease the work of grading, but even hybrid masters may have trouble connecting with students when they are online at home. By not being in the classroom for an extended time period, how can CTE teachers make sure that students are thinking about future careers and building soft skills: critical-thinking, problem solving, professionalism, communication and teamwork skills while they are alone?

Author Les Dlabay, who has taught business courses both in-class and online is offering a collection of advice and example activities for engaging students with college and career ready skills online with activities aligned to the Oh…D-E-A-R model he introduced in his webinar Career Development and Workforce/College Readiness for High School Students. 

Oh…D-E-A-R! framework for planning and implementing learning activities with examples:

  • • D – Deliver
    • E – Engage
    • A – Assess
    • R – Reinforce

Download Activities & Tips to deliver, engage, assess and reinforce online for the following topics:

  1. Workforce/College Readiness
  2. Human-Centered Design
  3. Community Mapping
  4. Virtual Field Trips
  5. Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt
  6. Global Product/Package Analysis
  7. Personal Finance & Money Management
  8. Fintech
  9. Supply Chain/Value Chain
  10. Gig, Sharing, and Circular Economies
  11. Problem Solving/Case Analysis
  12. Simulated Interview
  13. Online Team Project
  14. Class “Discussion” Responses
  15. Online Guest Speakers

Plus, metrics for success, successful student actions, and additional activities!

Click here to download 60+ pages of Effective Online Learning Resources for College/Career Readiness

Student actions for successful online learning — both the teacher and student may have to fight to stay organized, engaged and on task while working and learning from home. These tips benefit online learners and teachers to end the day feeling accomplished and de-stress.

  1. Establish a routine with some variation; mix things up to keep alert and engaged
  2. Create a daily checklist with time slots and time limits to monitor progress
  3. Schedule time to relax, exercise, connect with others, and for recreation and entertainment
  4. Plan the day around quiet hours, and your productive time
  5. Create a productive work setting with proper lighting, equipment, supplied, materials, and comfortable seating
  6. Seek assistance and guidance from others
  7. Plan meals for balance between forgetting to eat and snacking all day; vary the work setting to avoid boredom
  8. Avoid social media activities not related to class

Click here to download 60+ pages of Effective Online Learning activities for College/Career Readiness.

*Access the recording of Les Dlabay’s webinar here.

About the Author: 

“Learning for a life worth living” is the teaching emphasis of Les Dlabay, Professor of Business, Emeritus, at Lake Forest College in Illinois. He has authored or has adaptations of over 40 textbooks in the United States, Canada, India, and Singapore, including Principles of Business, International Business, and Business Finance with National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage. In addition, he has taught more than 30 different courses in high school, community college, university, teacher preparation, and adult education programs. Three times he has been honored with “The Great Teacher” Award at Lake Forest College. Dr. Dlabay has presented more than 300 workshops and seminars emphasizing interactive learning strategies, team projects, and field research activities. His “hobbies” involve a cereal package collection from more than 100 countries, and banknotes from 200 countries, which are used to teach economic, cultural, and political aspects of global business.

Resources and help for those affected by COVID-19

We’re monitoring the spread and impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on K-12 schools across the country. If you’ve been affected by Coronavirus and are experiencing a school closure, we’ve collected resources for educators that may help.
Learn More
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Future-Ready Curriculum and Online Solutions in Career and Technical Education

by with No Comment Webinar - Career & Tech Ed

Future-Ready Curriculum and Online Solutions in Career and Technical Education

This webinar replay features a demonstration and discussion of emerging online solutions across the career clusters in career and technical education. See how MindTap, the online solution for CTE courses, offers hands-on practice, simulations, up-to-date content and certification prep for new and forthcoming titles in Marketing, Business, Finance, Information Technology, Adobe Software, Construction Trades, Automotive, and Health Care.

Abby Hess

Associate Product Marketing Manager, Career & Technical Education, National Geographic Learning

Chris Jaeggi

Product Director, Career & Technical Education, National Geographic Learning

This webinar replay features a demonstration and discussion of emerging online solutions across the career clusters in career and technical education. See how MindTap, the online solution for CTE courses, offers hands-on practice, simulations, up-to-date content and certification prep for new and forthcoming titles in Marketing, Business, Finance, Information Technology, Adobe Software, Construction Trades, Automotive, and Health Care.

In this webinar replay, you will learn:

  • How emerging online solutions offer hands-on practice & Work-Based Learning across the Career Clusters aligned to industry standards
  • What's coming for the future of long-loved titles like Simmer's DHO, The Revealed Series for Adobe Creative Cloud, Century 21 Accounting, Automotive Service & Repair, Welding and many more
  • How your students can prepare for and earn industry certification in every course along their career pathway
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Microsoft Teams and Engagement Tools for Online Teaching with Corinne Hoisington

by with No Comment Career & Tech EdDigital Experience

Microsoft Teams and Engagement Tools for Online Teaching with Corinne Hoisington

Abigail Hess

Associate Product Marketing Manager • Career and Technical Education • National Geographic Learning | Cengage

*Access the recording of Corinne Hoisington’s webinar here. 

Communicating with students and parents has changed drastically as schools across the country have been forced to teach online for the first time this spring, but author Corinne Hoisington sees this as an opportunity to make use of the many free digital tools we have today to engage students in learning even when they can’t be in the classroom.

WATCH author and Computer Science Professor/Teacher Corinne Hoisington walk through some amazing tips and free online tools to start teaching online. Feel free to pause the video and try out these tools as Corinne introduces them. A full list of the tools she mentions are available below in the order they are introduced in the webinar.

Add Closed Captioning to your Virtual Presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint 365

  1. Open Slideshow Tab
  2. Check “Always present with subtitles” 
  3. Under “Subtitle Settings” select which language(se) you want to present with

Microsoft Translate.it

*Free online tool

Allows you to create a personal link that allows a parent or student to login and pick whatever language they prefer.

Google Lens Mobile App

*Free downloadable app

Use your camera to search for what you see in the world. Download at App store  “Google Lens” or on an iPhone, “Google App” on the Apple Store.

Microsoft Immersive Reader

*Free tool inside Microsoft Edge Browser, Microsoft Word for Office 365 and much more.

Make it easier for students to understand online assignments, readings, and articles with a tool that decodes and reformats text to help emerging readers.

Microsoft Teams for Education

*Free online tool and included in Office 365 Subscriptions

  • • Can be used on any platform, including smart phones AND can be integrated into your everyday classrooms even if you are a Google School
    • Many parents may already be familiar with Microsoft Teams as it is often used in the business world
Why Microsoft Teams?
  • • Teach online for free and record your lesson plan
    • Work with your colleagues on projects
    • Share lessons across your school systems
    • 250 students can be live at the same time on video
    • Share content/files with students
    • Share your desktop or pass control for a student to share
    • Whiteboard available 

Flipgrid

*Free online tool

• Easy way to allow students to share short videos to contribute to classroom discussions and share projects
• Offers moderated features where teachers can give an OK for when the rest of your students see other videos uploaded by students
• Includes the ability to use an avatar rather than a video for students who cannot share video

Introduct yourself and share a favorite technology you are using on Corinne Hoisington’s Flipgrid for online learning! 

  1. Go here: https://flipgrid.com/1f7d4ec9
  2. Enter the password: passw0rd (the o is a zero)

*Access the recording of Corinne Hoisington’s webinar here.

Corinne Hoisington is a full-time professor of Information Systems Technology at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, Virginia, with more than 25 years of teaching experience. Corinne travels over 200,000 miles a year delivering keynote addresses to college and university professors and K-12 educators in over 70 cities worldwide for customers such as the Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft Canada Camp 21 International Events, Cengage Learning, ByteSpeed, Capital One International Bank, Executive LIVE in London and Johannesburg, and the international South by Southwest (SXSW) event in Austin, Texas. Professor Hoisington is the recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in Computer Programming. Corinne has authored over 30 textbooks with National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage on topics such as Outlook 2019, Office 2019, Microsoft Windows, Android Boot Camp Java, Technology Now, and Visual Basic 2017.

Corinne is a thought leader and curriculum specialist for Virtual Reality. Corinne believes that VR & AR are game-changers in education today. The pedagogies of constructivism and immersive learning show that students learn best by doing or by being. So they shouldn’t just read about history — they should ‘be’ historians. They shouldn’t just study archaeology — they should ‘be’ archaeologists. Let’s raise the next round of inventors through the discovery of a 3D world.

Technology infused pedagogy has the power to transform teaching & learning.  We can now create deeper and authentic learning using digital resources such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence that are now available to both teachers and students. It’s never been a more exciting time for teachers to explore and for schools to stay connected with accessible and current technology to nurture student engagement and success.

Resources and help for those affected by COVID-19

We’re monitoring the spread and impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on K-12 schools across the country. If you’ve been affected by Coronavirus and are experiencing a school closure, we’ve collected resources for educators that may help.
Learn More
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Microsoft Teams and Engagement Tools for Online Teaching

by with No Comment Digital ExperienceWebinar - Career & Tech Ed

Microsoft Teams and Engagement Tools for Online Teaching

Communicating with students and parents has changed drastically as schools across the country have been forced to teach online for the first time this spring, but author Corinne Hoisington sees this as an opportunity to make use of the many free digital tools we have today to engage students in learning even when they can’t be in the classroom.

Corinne Hoisington

Professor of Information Systems Technology
Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, Virginia

Yes, I'm over the age of 16. I want to receive important National Geographic Learning | Cengage updates and information. *

Communicating with students and parents has changed drastically as schools across the country have been forced to teach online for the first time this spring, but author Corinne Hoisington sees this as an opportunity to make use of the many free digital tools we have today to engage students in learning even when they can’t be in the classroom.

Watch author and Computer Science Professor/Teacher Corinne Hoisington walk through some amazing tips and free online tools to start teaching online.