Want to incorporate (more) digital literacy into your classroom?
The ACC provides support to instructors and UNM program leads on a regular basis, from simple tool trainings to instructional support on incorporating digital media into lesson plans. Support is on a first-come, first-served basis on the availability of the ACC Staff Lead. Two weeks' notice is required, except for a lesson plan consult.
Pre-designed Lesson Plans
These lesson plans are pre-designed and function as a strong introduction to the related tools and techniques. They work well when paired with a project that requires some tools skills.
The ACC Lead can support or host a class session with these lesson plans, or you can run them yourself. They also work well as homework assignments.
Lesson Plan on Academic Podcasting by Stephen Marshall at the University of Florida / Tutorial 7a in Kim Fourier’s CTL Adobe Instructor Design Academy
Custom Support
In the past, custom support has included the options discussed below. This list is neither exhaustive nor pre-approved. The more intensive the request, the more notice is required, and it is first-come, first-served based on the availability of the ACC Lead. Two weeks' notice is the minimum required lead time, except for lesson plan consults.
Lesson Plan Consult (only 24 hours' notice required)
In an hour, the ACC Lead can discuss a lesson plan or an overview of your syllabus / course plan with you. This does not include materials or imply support for implementing those ideas. Instead, the idea is to sit down, have a chat, and brainstorm digital media applications in your lesson plan or course.
Tool Workshop
This is a one-off class session where I come to teach your class about a particular digital media tool, such as "In Design," "equipment training," or "Canon 90D cameras." While this is a popular request, I encourage you to consider linking it to a particular assignment or project.
Tutorial & Resource Development
If there are tools or skills that are not covered in our Resources section, the ACC Lead can prepare tutorials and resources for you. Depending on your needs and overall demand, these may be customized or hand-selected to suit your needs. Also a good option for online-only courses.
Short-Term Digital Media Project Plan
I will work with you to teach a short project, around 1-3 classes, that includes digital literacy components and practical tools knowledge. The pre-designed lesson plans could fall under this category, or be a component in a larger course.
Major Project, Course, and Expanded Support
For more intensive projects, whether it is a semester-long project; a semester-long series of projects; or a shorter project that still has substantial class time attached. Typically, the ACC supports one of these courses per semester, and the results tend to be quite substantial. For example, two separate classes have built student-led exhibitions in the library to showcase their research.
Approaches to Digital Literacy in the Classroom
There are two main starting points I use for digital literacy classroom support. I use these concepts to help you develop project plans, lesson plans, and to help you with effective instructional support in the classroom.
Method #1 is tapping into instructors' existing learning goals.
This method is readily accessible to instructors, giving them a built-in goal and evaluation method. However, it can make more advanced types of digital literacy learning feel "too complex" or inaccessible, especially if the instructor is themselves not experienced or confident in digital media production.
Method #2 is tapping into the vast knowledge of making things.
Previously, I often helped implement this second one through a clear goal that I identified early on with instructors. EG, "improve the students' ability to communicate information via graphic design and constructing an exhibit that is consistent, clear, and crafts a narrative out of data and context." You can see how method 1 feeds into method 2 here - this course was helping the students craft a narrative out of data and context; our collaboration was about helping the students express that information through a library exhibition.
Now, I am also including the (relatively new) UT Arlington's Maker Competencies. As I said before, the document is quite large, and I am happy to help you figure out what category(s) of competencies are a best-fit for your goals, and design digital literacy assignments and projects around that category(s).
Coming Soon: Scaffolded Project Templates with Rubric Templates, Learning Goal Outlines, & More