One of the topics that struck a cord with me while reading chapter 3 is the new term digital citizenship. I think this is a great term to describe all users of all sorts of social medias and blogs. Just like we are responsible for being upstanding citizens in our neighborhoods, we need to be responsible for what we post and share online. Not only is it important to discuss with our students about the importance of being responsible while using such websites, but it is also important for teachers to have a discussion about how once something is posted or shared, it is online for anyone and everyone to see. Even if you delete your post or share, it isn't actually gone. It will always be a part of our cyber world. Before I introduce my class to using IPads and laptops in my class, I want to have this discussion with my students, even though my students won't be on social media sites like FaceBook or Twitter. I believe it is important to have this discussion because not all students have supervision while using technology. I am still thinking of a creative way to have this talk with my students- so if anyone has any ideas please share with me!! :)
Being a digital citizen also means respecting all sources of information as well. There are so many opportunities for students to obtain new information to aid them while writing informational essays. However, we as teachers, need to teach our students how to correctly use sources. That includes discussing plagiarism and how to properly cite a source. Last year, I did a whole lesson on paraphrasing while using sources to help their writing. I used the idea of being a parrot to help my students understand that you don't want to sound like a parrot just repeating and copying your sources, but rather put the information in your own words to sound like you!
I enjoyed reading the section Literacy Learning with Digital Cameras. When I first saw the title I was immediately excited. Reading is something that the students at my school struggle with and they don't tend to like reading all that much. If I could make literacy come to life for them, it will make all the difference. The alphabet and concept books would work great for kindergarten and first grade classrooms. However, I teach the 3rd grade so I wonder how I could modify these concepts and ideas into a more appropriate tool for my third graders.
Questions:
1. What are some ways you implement or plan on implementing technology in your classrooms?
2. How would you go about introducing your use of technology into your classroom?
Bianca,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! My parents have instilled in me from a young age, whatever you put on the internet is up forever so be careful what you say/post. I think it is important for us to have a similar conversation with our students. Students need to understand that while the Internet is extremely helpful and a great resource it can be a dangerous place as well. Like you said teachers must show students appropriate websites to view and use as a resource. While inappropriate websites are often blocked in school these websites are easy to access at home so it is important to have that conversation with students to inform them to be smart and safe on the Internet.
Bianca,
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog! Students do need to know the do-and don't on internet as well as, different website. Yes, teacher must show students appropriate websites, to view and use. But it is very easy to access at home. Not only teachers should monitor there students how dangerous the internet, face-book, and twitter the parents plays a very important role to get involved to.
Hi Bianca,
ReplyDeleteThe term digital citizenship was also one that stuck out to me in the reading. Like the previous comments mention, I wholeheartedly agree that parent guidance and instruction is crucial to creating a safe online environment for students. We can continue to drill safe online habits into the minds of our students, but if they are left with free reign at home, this won't make much of a difference. I think it would be a good idea to set up conferences with parents about internet safety and monitoring their kid's usage. Thanks for bringing up these points, they are very current and important.
Digital citizenship goes well with one of the topics in chapter 1, Digital identity. The two go hand in hand. While being a citizen of the online world, we also have an identity. Whether its the url we associate with our blog, or our teacher website. We must encourage students to be law abiding citizens while on the world wide web. Things they may see as anonymous can actually be traced back to whomever posted the link or statement. This is an important conversation to have with the students simply because the issue of Cyber Bullying is a growing epidemic.
ReplyDeleteAs for your second question, I believe that less is more. Technology should be used in the classroom for appropriate and necessary instances. I don't believe that it is something that should be the focus of everyday lessons and activities. People were educated before technology and they can be educated after it.