Digital Curricula vs. Digital Tools: Definition & Uses - Lesson | Study.com (2024)

Lesson Transcript

InstructorFrank ClintShow bio

Frank has been an educator for over 10 years. He has a doctorate degree in education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction.

Many classrooms use digital resources in student educational processes. Explore the definitions and uses of digital curricula, as well as digital tools. Review evolving classrooms, and recognize how both digital curricula and digital tools can benefit classrooms.

Table of Contents

  • Evolving Classrooms
  • Digital Curricula
  • Lesson Summary
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Classrooms have evolved along with our world. If you were a student graduating high school 20 years ago, the internet was new, cell phones weren't a standard item in purses and pockets, and tablets didn't even exist. Online learning existed in its archaic form, and the words ''social'' and ''media'' had no relation. Much has changed, and the classroom of today reflects all of the technological advances that have taken the world by storm. Because of this shift, digital curricula and digital tools have emerged, although they are not staples in every classroom. What's the difference between a digital curriculum and a digital tool, and what is the purpose of each?

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  • 0:04 Evolving Classrooms
  • 0:47 Digital Curricula
  • 2:32 Digital Tools & Resources
  • 4:20 Lesson Summary

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Depending on when and where you went to school, you may have learned with books, such as textbooks from an official program bought by the school or district. Your teacher may have given assignments using worksheets and assessments on paper. A digital curriculum replaces traditional curriculum, such as textbooks and, in some cases, the traditional classroom environment. Some examples of a digital curriculum include:

  • Online courses
  • Electronic textbooks
  • Digital and online programs

Online courses range from K-12 to university and vocational levels. This type of digital curriculum allows for a blended learning environment or an entirely online learning environment. Teachers deliver all assignments and curriculum materials via an online learning management system (LMS). In other cases, electronic textbooks have enabled teachers to replace the heavy books used before. Electronic textbooks quickly open on a tablet, smartphone, laptop, or computer.

Digital and online curriculum programs are widely used in schools today. Some examples include Study Island, Istation, and IXL. These programs are designed to teach or reinforce curriculum standards using gamification, which is using game-like elements and other engaging features. A program may reinforce math or reading standards using video lessons and practice activities, for example. Personalized learning programs with built-in assessments, such as computer adaptive assessments, make it possible for teachers to individualize instruction to meet the unique needs of each student.

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In some cases, digital tools and resources may be more appropriate than an entire curriculum. Digital tools differ from digital curricula because they're used to help deliver instruction or for other classroom purposes. They aren't school curricula by themselves because they can't replace instruction. For example, a video or movie maker app is considered a digital tool that can be used to help students create a movie to help explain a concept they're learning. Other digital tools and resources include:

  • Word processing documents
  • Slide presentation software
  • Electronic reference materials
  • Tablet and cellphone apps

You can implement digital projects using various word processing and slide software for individual and collaborative projects. Instead of students creating a poster, for example, they could create a slideshow. Similar to electronic textbooks, dictionaries, thesauruses, and other reference tools can now be found on the internet or through apps, which saves room in the classroom.

Teachers' favorite digital tools are often tablet and cell phone apps. The word ''apps'' is short for applications, which are software programs specifically for mobile devices. You can find software and resources to help you with classroom management such as ClassDojo, in which you can assign or take away points based on behavior. Other apps such as Quizlet help with assessment by allowing teachers to create and assign quizzes. Several easy-to-use and customizable platforms such as Google Classroom and Edmodo are available for teachers to integrate into their classrooms. These platforms are similar to LMS platforms.

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All right, let's take a moment or two to review the important info from this lesson. Digital curriculum is a robust program or a set of materials used to teach or reinforce school standards or objectives. Examples might be online courses delivered on a learning management system (LMS), which is the system teachers use to deliver all assignments and curriculum materials, or digital and online curriculum programs used to teach a particular subject area, such as math. Digital tools are different because they aren't used to teach or reinforce but as a way to help teachers deliver instruction, organize, manage the classroom, or assess students. An example of a digital tool would be one of the many apps, or programs on mobile devices, that are used to track student behavior on a tablet or mobile device.

The digital age brought many of these advancements into education. And with more emphasis on moving software onto the cloud (the convenience of being able to access files anywhere), one can only wonder what the future holds.

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Digital Curricula vs. Digital Tools: Definition & Uses - Lesson | Study.com (2024)

FAQs

Digital Curricula vs. Digital Tools: Definition & Uses - Lesson | Study.com? ›

In some cases, digital tools and resources may be more appropriate than an entire curriculum. Digital tools differ from digital curricula because they're used to help deliver instruction or for other classroom purposes. They aren't school curricula by themselves because they can't replace instruction.

What is the definition of digital tools? ›

Digital tools (DT) can be defined as programs, websites, applications, and other internet and computerized resources that facilitate, enhance and execute digital processes and overall digitization efforts.

What is digital curricula? ›

Digital curriculum is a comprehensive, customizable collection of resources. It is standards-aligned, flexible, accessible, personalizes learning, engages learners as the digital natives they are, and presents opportunities to enhance learner agency.

What is the importance of using digital tools in the teaching-learning process? ›

Improved Collaboration: Digital tools enable students and teachers to collaborate and communicate more effectively, regardless of their location. This collaboration enhances the learning experience, encourages teamwork, and helps students develop social skills.

How to use digital tools in teaching? ›

How do you use digital tools in your classroom?
  1. Choose appropriate digital tools.
  2. Create engaging content.
  3. Facilitate collaboration.
  4. Assess learning.
  5. Communicate with students.
  6. Reflect and evaluate.
  7. Here's what else to consider.
Sep 11, 2023

What is a digital tool and give two examples? ›

Digital Tools & Resources

For example, a video or movie maker app is considered a digital tool that can be used to help students create a movie to help explain a concept they're learning. Other digital tools and resources include: Word processing documents. Slide presentation software.

What is a digital tools class? ›

Digital tools for the classroom include apps, software, and devices that create opportunities for virtual collaboration between students. They use multimedia, social media, games, and interactive learning to engage students in online materials.

What is an example of a digital tool? ›

Digital tools encompass various categories such as communication (like Slack and Zoom), collaboration (Google Workspace), productivity (Trello and Asana), learning (Khan Academy and Coursera), and design tools(Canva and Adobe Creative Cloud) among others.

What is an example of a digital curriculum? ›

Some examples of a digital curriculum include:
  • Online courses.
  • Electronic textbooks.
  • Digital and online programs.
Oct 26, 2021

Why are digital tools important? ›

Digital tools offer two crucial advantages over manual processes. They provide: A data structure that ensures you're capturing information consistently across all contributors. A shared repository that makes hunting through binders, file cabinets, thumb drives, and individual spreadsheets a relic of the past.

How do digital tools improve the learning experience? ›

Allowing sufficient time for learning and teaching, enabling learners to develop their knowledge and skills Online digital networks allow educators to share resources and digital tools and services expedite lesson planning. Digital assessment eliminates marking time.

What are the learning tools? ›

What are Learning Tools? Learning Tools are a set of inclusive features available in a wide range of platforms that assist all learners in reading, writing, math, and communication.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of digital tools? ›

Advantages: Digital tools offer more convergent thinking in design ideation. Disadvantages: No discernible impact on general productivity or divergent thinking. The advantages of using digital tools in illustration include unlimited workspace and easy storage, while the disadvantages are limited physical interfaces.

What do you use digital tools for? ›

Sometimes, they'll be best used in combination with one another to perform different tasks in an engagement process.
  • Argument visualisation. ...
  • Co-drafting. ...
  • Commenting / feedback. ...
  • Crowd-mapping. ...
  • Decision-making. ...
  • Discussion forum. ...
  • Ideas generation. ...
  • Interactive Q&A.

What are examples of digital learning in the classroom? ›

Digital Learning Tools
  • Word processing software to create documents.
  • PowerPoint presentations or other slides.
  • Digital or online flashcards.
  • Game design software.
  • Interactive whiteboards.
  • Online quizzes and educational games.

What is digital learning in the classroom? ›

Digital Learning is "learning facilitated by technology that gives students some element of control over time, place, path and/or pace."[ 1]

What is digital definition in it? ›

Digital describes electronic technology that generates, stores and processes data in terms of positive and nonpositive states. Positive is expressed or represented by the number 1 and nonpositive by the number 0. Thus, data transmitted or stored with digital technology is expressed as a string of 0s and 1s.

What is the difference between digital and technology tools? ›

Digital information is represented as bits, which can be either 0 or 1. This allows digital information to be easily processed and transmitted by electronic devices. Technology is a broader term that encompasses all tools, techniques, and processes used to create products and services.

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