Overview
Fourth grade students experience Digital Learning primarily as an integrated part of the school day. Digital learning integration can help students create, think critically, communicate, collaborate, and have ownership over their own learning. While students may use technology frequently outside of class, most need to be explicitly taught how to use technology actively rather than passively. Digital Learning is intended as a set of tools and mindsets, integrated into all content areas, that support students’ learning journey and learner identity by:
- Engaging students in deeper learning
- Empowering students through agency, voice, identity, and choice
- Supporting access to content in rich, multimodal ways
- Closing access, achievement, and opportunity gaps to enable future success
Priority Standards
What students will know, what students will do, and what thinking skills students will develop to apply and transfer Digital Learning understandings that endure within the discipline, leverage deeper understandings, and/or support readiness for success at the next grade level.
In 4th Grade, focus on these priority standards:
Technology Skills
Students develop expertise in using Seesaw, Google Slides, and Google Docs for a variety of purposes including
- creating multimedia presentations and portfolios
- collaborating with others on group projects
- sharing work and gathering feedback
- choosing the best digital tool for a specific task
Digital Agency
Each student is developing their own "Digital Life". As they grow, their Digital Life changes from watching and playing to creating, interacting, researching, and critically thinking about the world online. 4th Grade students will learn about media balance, media literacy, and how they create a positive impact online.
Technology Care Practices
Starting in 4th grade, students
- use their assigned device for both classwork and homework.
- learn how to take care of their device independently, including charging their device at home.
Instruction: Signature Elements
Below are signature elements of SFUSD Digital Learning instruction that students should experience regularly throughout 4th Grade as they develop as Digital Learners.
Technology Integration
- Integrate digital tools, including Seesaw, Google Slides, and Google Docs into content instruction to demonstrate learning.
- Provide students with frequent opportunities to use digital tools to access information, express their ideas and identity, collaborate, and share.
- Support students to build multimedia and design skills.
- Designate time for students to continue practicing keyboarding skills using Typing Club.
Monthly Digital Agency Lessons
Teachers will guide students to navigate their Digital Life safely and responsibly with a series of lessons throughout the year.
Each 4th grader should receive 30 minutes of Digital Agency instruction per month.
Technology Care Systems & Routines
Similar to building classroom norms and rules, build a technology care and use plan together with students.
Set up systems for charging Chromebooks, taking out Chromebooks during lessons and routines for bringing Chromebooks between home and school.
Devices
All 4th grade students should have an assigned SFUSD Chromebook to bring back and forth to school (Note: They will keep this device for Middle School and High School.) If students are missing devices, please first contact your site administrator or your site’s DLeaF. If they are unable to resolve the issue promptly, please contact your Cohort Partner from the SFUSD Digital Learning and Enablement Team.
4th graders will begin to take their assigned Chromebook back and forth between school and home. For more information see the 4th / 5th Grade Device Guidance.
Students will log into their assigned Chromebook with their SFUSD Google account. Students will continue to use this same Google account throughout elementary, middle and high school.
Digital Backpack- The SFUSD Digital Backpack is the collection of applications which have been vetted for student data privacy and supporting district curriculum and content standards. Apps that are not in the Backpack have not been reviewed and should not be used.
Units
4th Grade - Digital Learning Getting Started Guide
Digital Agency - A guide with ready-made learning materials for teachers and students to promote healthy, positive online interactions and behaviors to participate respectfully.
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Planning Guide
Explore the 4th Grade Getting Started Guide to support your classroom's digital learning experience. Learn how to incorporate digital learning tools to enable Equitable Access & Demand, Inquiry, Collaboration and Assessment for Learning into your everyday teaching.
SFUSD’s Digital Learning Scope & Sequence identifies digital learning competencies that help prepare students to meet SFUSD’s Graduate Profile and the ISTE Standards for Students.
Reflection Questions
- How are students' developmental needs, communities, and experiences being reflected and honored, or how could they be?
- What opportunities do you see for developing equitable access & demand, inquiry, collaboration, and assessment for learning?
- What are the implications for your own practice? What strengths can you build upon? What will you do first?
Want More?
Contact the Digital Learning and Enablement Team
Find your Cohort Partner’s contact info on this sheet.
This page was last updated on May 17, 2023