High School Internet Safety
Internet safety can be broken down into four categories which include cyberbullying, online predators, computer viruses and other computer intrusions, and cyber crime. As define in, Teaching and Learning in a Digital World, cyberbullying is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. Educating students about the consequences of cyberbullying is a start toward prevention but students need to respect others and take a stand against bullying of any kind and of all students. Students can also become victims of online predators by way of email, chat rooms, instant messaging, social networks, and other communication mechanisms. Again, communication with students is critical and discussing the dangers of the internet and understanding the safety guidelines is a great starting point. The third category of internet safety is computer viruses and other intrusions. While most computer networks have fire walls and virus protection software, students must know that there are limitations to what these prevention measures can do. When in doubt, it is better to play it safe, is a good policy for students. The final internet safety category is cyber crime and while not as common as some of the cyber dangers it is a very serious issue. According to the Department of Justice there are three types of computer crime which include attacking the computers of others, using a computer as a weapon, and using a computer to store illegal or stolen information. These crimes have very serious consequences and it is very important that students get faculty involved if they suspect any of these crimes. The online experience can be a very wonderful experience if guidelines and precautions are observed but can also be a very horrifying experience if guidelines and precautions are not observed. Communication is critical and if students have questions about any of the material pertaining to internet safety, they should get their teachers and parents involved to help with those questions.
Reference
Pollard, C., & Pollard, R. (2008). Teaching and Learning in a Digital World. Boise: ERC Publishing.
Wiredkids, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2009, from Stop Cyberbullying: http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Equitable Access
Ways a teacher can provide their class equitable access to technology
Part of the sixth National Education Technology Standard is the need for teachers to assist in providing all students equitable access to technology resources. This assistance can be provided in many ways and could include keeping current on organizations that provide assistance in this area, working with local businesses and organizations, and using their creativity to invent and search for affordable ways of providing technological resources. Keeping current with organizations like the Alliance for Community Technology, The Benton Foundation, and the International Society for Technology in Education can be great resources for providing guidance on issues in the area of education technology. A local organization like the Boy Scouts of America is another great resource. In many cases organizations like this are looking for community service projects that they can do to pass off requirements for advancement. This could include gathering used computers and donating those computers to local schools. Businesses are also always looking for ways they can help the community and could include donating used technology equipment. Finally, teaches using their creativity can invent and search for affordable ways to provide technology. This could include things like Johnny Chung Lee’s invention of a low cost interactive whiteboard using a Wii remote and LED pen. Teachers, out of necessity, are always coming up with great ideas that bring technology to their classrooms and save money in the process so it is always a great idea to collaborate with other teachers in your school and even outside your school.
References
International Society for Technology in Education . (n.d.). Educator Resources Equity. Retrieved May 2, 2009, from ISTE: http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Equity&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=38&ContentID=13483
Lee, J. C. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2009, from Johnny Chung Lee: http://johnnylee.net/
Pollard, C., & Pollard, R. (2008). Teaching and Learning in a Digital World. Boise: ERC Publishing.
Part of the sixth National Education Technology Standard is the need for teachers to assist in providing all students equitable access to technology resources. This assistance can be provided in many ways and could include keeping current on organizations that provide assistance in this area, working with local businesses and organizations, and using their creativity to invent and search for affordable ways of providing technological resources. Keeping current with organizations like the Alliance for Community Technology, The Benton Foundation, and the International Society for Technology in Education can be great resources for providing guidance on issues in the area of education technology. A local organization like the Boy Scouts of America is another great resource. In many cases organizations like this are looking for community service projects that they can do to pass off requirements for advancement. This could include gathering used computers and donating those computers to local schools. Businesses are also always looking for ways they can help the community and could include donating used technology equipment. Finally, teaches using their creativity can invent and search for affordable ways to provide technology. This could include things like Johnny Chung Lee’s invention of a low cost interactive whiteboard using a Wii remote and LED pen. Teachers, out of necessity, are always coming up with great ideas that bring technology to their classrooms and save money in the process so it is always a great idea to collaborate with other teachers in your school and even outside your school.
References
International Society for Technology in Education . (n.d.). Educator Resources Equity. Retrieved May 2, 2009, from ISTE: http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Equity&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=38&ContentID=13483
Lee, J. C. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2009, from Johnny Chung Lee: http://johnnylee.net/
Pollard, C., & Pollard, R. (2008). Teaching and Learning in a Digital World. Boise: ERC Publishing.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Netiquette Guidlines
Netiquette Guidelines 10th Grade Algebra
Netiquette is a set of guidelines to keep in mind while involved in any online environment. Students should use these guidelines and good judgement when making decisions about the content they are engaged in.
Respect: Be respectful to others and respect yourself. Remember to treat others the way you wish to be treated and behave online as you would in real life. You are entitled to your opinion but so are others, respect others opinions and expect them to do the same. The characteristics you display online reflect on the characteristics you hold in real life so respect yourself and show good character.
Safety: Take the better safe then sorry approach. If you think there could be a possible threat to yourself or the school network then don't take the chance. Keep in mind that, while there are many security measures present on the school network, the best security measure is common sense. Don't give out your password, only give information that is necessary, and know where you are in cyberspace.
Professional: Using proper grammar, spelling and mechanics, when you write, shows you take pride in your work and you take pride in what you have to say. Review your work before you post anything and if possible have someone else look it over before posting. The school network and the Internet are public environments so be professional and confident that your work is appropriate.
Courtesy: Using all capital letters portrays shouting in the online world and there are other more productive ways of communicating. Be considerate of others time, work, effort and opinions. Do not send or forward chain letters, they waste others time and bleed resources.
Credit: Give credit where credit is due. Make sure when using others work that you correctly cite that work. Plagiarizing is very serious and it doesn't take much effort to avoid serious problems.
Responsible: As young adults, I'm holding each one of you responsible for using good judgement and making sound decisions on the content you pursue. If you have any questions or concerns about content, please don't hesitate to get me involved.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Cooperative Learning
Although there are many teaching strategies in our educational system, one of the best researched is cooperative learning like the jigsaw method. Research has shown students who work collaboratively, learn quicker, have greater retention, and have a more positive feeling about their learning experience. Students also learn essential interpersonal life-skills and develop skills to work collaboratively. Cooperative learning creates more positive relationships between students, and strengthens students’ psychological health and self-esteem. Success of the group depends on each member and each member must participate in order for the group to realize that success (New Horizons for Learning, 2005). Other research has shown that cooperative learning is particularly beneficial for students learning a second language. The activities used in cooperative learning promote peer interaction, which is very helpful in language development (Colorin Colorado, 2007). Furthermore, with budget issues in our classrooms today, cooperative learning strategies are inexpensive and easy to implement.
There are, however, some drawbacks with improper guidance and supervision. Moreover, teachers cannot look at the strategy as time to correct papers and not be involved (New Horizons for Learning, 2005). Cooperative learning requires that a group leader be appointed which can lead to dominant students taking over the group. Teachers must monitor this and make sure each student gets the opportunity to take on each role required. Slow students can also pose potential drawbacks but with techniques like the “expert” group these issues can be minimized. On the other hand, bright students could have boredom problems but if those students are encouraged to develop the mind set of “teacher” the issues can again be minimized (Jigsaw Classroom, 2009).
Using the following steps cooperative learning strategies can be beneficial for the entire class. First, select a topic and break it into parts. Second, place 4 – 6 students in expert groups. Third, assign each group a part of the topic. Finally, send individual “experts” into mixed groups to form a whole topic discussion (Jigsaw Classroom, 2009). Cooperative learning, if done properly, can be a very useful tool and can be a positive experience for everyone.
References: Jigsaw Classroom. 2009. 7 Feb. 2009 http://www.jigsaw.org/.
New Horizons for Learnin. 2005. 7 Feb. 2009 http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/cooperative/front_cooperative.htm.
Colorin Colorado. 2008. 7 Feb. 2009 http://www.colorincolorado.org/educators/content/cooperative.
There are, however, some drawbacks with improper guidance and supervision. Moreover, teachers cannot look at the strategy as time to correct papers and not be involved (New Horizons for Learning, 2005). Cooperative learning requires that a group leader be appointed which can lead to dominant students taking over the group. Teachers must monitor this and make sure each student gets the opportunity to take on each role required. Slow students can also pose potential drawbacks but with techniques like the “expert” group these issues can be minimized. On the other hand, bright students could have boredom problems but if those students are encouraged to develop the mind set of “teacher” the issues can again be minimized (Jigsaw Classroom, 2009).
Using the following steps cooperative learning strategies can be beneficial for the entire class. First, select a topic and break it into parts. Second, place 4 – 6 students in expert groups. Third, assign each group a part of the topic. Finally, send individual “experts” into mixed groups to form a whole topic discussion (Jigsaw Classroom, 2009). Cooperative learning, if done properly, can be a very useful tool and can be a positive experience for everyone.
References: Jigsaw Classroom. 2009. 7 Feb. 2009 http://www.jigsaw.org/.
New Horizons for Learnin. 2005. 7 Feb. 2009 http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/cooperative/front_cooperative.htm.
Colorin Colorado. 2008. 7 Feb. 2009 http://www.colorincolorado.org/educators/content/cooperative.
Friday, January 30, 2009
How can we justify
How can we justify spending a lot of money to buy assistive technologies that might only be used by a small number of people?
According to an overview by the department of education on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), approximately 1 million children with disabilities were shut out of schools and hundreds of thousands more were denied appropriate services prior to 1975. Current statistics have shown that since then many of these students have achieved levels thought impossible. Many are graduating from high school, going to college and getting jobs in the workforce. Unparalleled numbers have become productive citizens whereas before they were sent off and housed in state institutions (Overview IDEA'97, 2003). According to the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus website, it costs $219,000 per year to institutionalize one child. This money comes from tax payers like you and me.
I believe the question isn't whether we spend money or not, we spend money either way, but how we spend that money and which path will give both the individual and society the greatest return on that investment. History has given us many examples of individuals with disabilities that contributed greatly to society. Steven Hawking, Franklin D Roosevelt, Ludwig Van Beethoven, and Charles Dickens are just a few that come to mind. I don't believe we can afford to let potential physicists, leaders, composers, and writers be locked away in an institution, never to see what could have been, all the while paying for that incarceration. Making the investment up front could very well save money and have a much greater positive impact on society in the long run.
With educational budget cuts in the range of ten percent at local state universities, cuts in local K-12 school districts and budget cuts in education across the country, we will be faced with many challenges. Addressing these issues upfront will not be the easy road but a road that will take us to a better place that has more to offer all of us.
References: IDEA'97 . Overview. 2003. 30 Jan. 2009 http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/Policy/IDEA/overview.html.
Senate Republican Caucus. 2008. 30 Jan. 2009 http://www.senaterepublicans.wa.gov/news/2008/delvin/011608ARCReceptionSB6448.htm.
Idaho Statesman. 2009. 30 Jan. 2009 http://www.idahostatesman.com/education/story/632730.html.
According to an overview by the department of education on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), approximately 1 million children with disabilities were shut out of schools and hundreds of thousands more were denied appropriate services prior to 1975. Current statistics have shown that since then many of these students have achieved levels thought impossible. Many are graduating from high school, going to college and getting jobs in the workforce. Unparalleled numbers have become productive citizens whereas before they were sent off and housed in state institutions (Overview IDEA'97, 2003). According to the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus website, it costs $219,000 per year to institutionalize one child. This money comes from tax payers like you and me.
I believe the question isn't whether we spend money or not, we spend money either way, but how we spend that money and which path will give both the individual and society the greatest return on that investment. History has given us many examples of individuals with disabilities that contributed greatly to society. Steven Hawking, Franklin D Roosevelt, Ludwig Van Beethoven, and Charles Dickens are just a few that come to mind. I don't believe we can afford to let potential physicists, leaders, composers, and writers be locked away in an institution, never to see what could have been, all the while paying for that incarceration. Making the investment up front could very well save money and have a much greater positive impact on society in the long run.
With educational budget cuts in the range of ten percent at local state universities, cuts in local K-12 school districts and budget cuts in education across the country, we will be faced with many challenges. Addressing these issues upfront will not be the easy road but a road that will take us to a better place that has more to offer all of us.
References: IDEA'97 . Overview. 2003. 30 Jan. 2009 http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/Policy/IDEA/overview.html.
Senate Republican Caucus. 2008. 30 Jan. 2009 http://www.senaterepublicans.wa.gov/news/2008/delvin/011608ARCReceptionSB6448.htm.
Idaho Statesman. 2009. 30 Jan. 2009 http://www.idahostatesman.com/education/story/632730.html.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Why Technology Skills
Why Technology skills are needed in the classroom
As a parent of a high school age daughter and a middle school age son I have a little different perspective to this question compared to the majority of college students. As a parent I'm immersed in the policy issues, funding issues, standardized testing concerns, technology issues, and the list goes on. Furthermore, having worked several years for a large corporation has exposed me to the changes, and challenges that technology has put on the workplace and the skills needed to succeed.
So why are technology skills needed in the classroom? From the perspective of a parent I think one thing rises to the top of the list. Having the skills to use technology for active engaged communication between educators, students, parents, and administrators is one of the most important reasons why technology skills are needed. Having these skills is not a luxury in today's environment but a necessity. According to the EdTech Action Network, technology engages students in learning, improves attendance, reduces dropout rates while increasing graduation rates and facilitates parent involvement. A website like PowerSchool that parents and students can log into and review grades, attendance, grade history, teacher comments, school bulletins, and calendars is one example of this communication. Others forms of communication such as email, text messages, blogs, and video conferences via web cams can also be used to facilitate communication. This immediate engaged communication can help all of us, recognize issues before they become problems, see strengths and capitalize on those strengths, and make informed decisions based on current information.
So again why are technology skills needed in the classroom? From the perspective of a professional in a large corporation, I lived the transition from typed memos in your inbox to emails, from booking a flight to attend a meeting to sitting at my desk video conferencing, from transparent sheets on a projector to PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, Access databases, and Excel Spreadsheets. All of these technologies are not just in large corporations but in all business. For tomorrows professional to succeed they will need to be masters of these technologies. These skills will need to be second nature just to compete. The more exposure we can give to these technologies in the classroom, the better prepared the student will be to take on this challenge. According to the EdTech Action Network, today’s students must learn more than the basics to be prepared for life. They go on to say that Students who use technology develop the skills, academic knowledge and work habits that are necessary for success in the workplace.
Why are technology skills needed in the classroom? No matter what perspective you look from, you will see the same landscape. The world is changing and for us as students, parents, teachers, administrators, and citizens we will need many tools in our tool bag in order to succeed. Technology is one of the tools which will be vital to that success no matter what your definition of success is.
References
EdTech Action Network. (n.d.). ETAN. Retrieved May 2, 2009, from Children + Technology = America's Future: http://www.edtechactionnetwork.org/technology_schools.html
Pearson Education, Inc. . (2007). PowerSchool. Retrieved May 2, 2009, from PowerSchool: https://ps.meridianschools.org/public/
As a parent of a high school age daughter and a middle school age son I have a little different perspective to this question compared to the majority of college students. As a parent I'm immersed in the policy issues, funding issues, standardized testing concerns, technology issues, and the list goes on. Furthermore, having worked several years for a large corporation has exposed me to the changes, and challenges that technology has put on the workplace and the skills needed to succeed.
So why are technology skills needed in the classroom? From the perspective of a parent I think one thing rises to the top of the list. Having the skills to use technology for active engaged communication between educators, students, parents, and administrators is one of the most important reasons why technology skills are needed. Having these skills is not a luxury in today's environment but a necessity. According to the EdTech Action Network, technology engages students in learning, improves attendance, reduces dropout rates while increasing graduation rates and facilitates parent involvement. A website like PowerSchool that parents and students can log into and review grades, attendance, grade history, teacher comments, school bulletins, and calendars is one example of this communication. Others forms of communication such as email, text messages, blogs, and video conferences via web cams can also be used to facilitate communication. This immediate engaged communication can help all of us, recognize issues before they become problems, see strengths and capitalize on those strengths, and make informed decisions based on current information.
So again why are technology skills needed in the classroom? From the perspective of a professional in a large corporation, I lived the transition from typed memos in your inbox to emails, from booking a flight to attend a meeting to sitting at my desk video conferencing, from transparent sheets on a projector to PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, Access databases, and Excel Spreadsheets. All of these technologies are not just in large corporations but in all business. For tomorrows professional to succeed they will need to be masters of these technologies. These skills will need to be second nature just to compete. The more exposure we can give to these technologies in the classroom, the better prepared the student will be to take on this challenge. According to the EdTech Action Network, today’s students must learn more than the basics to be prepared for life. They go on to say that Students who use technology develop the skills, academic knowledge and work habits that are necessary for success in the workplace.
Why are technology skills needed in the classroom? No matter what perspective you look from, you will see the same landscape. The world is changing and for us as students, parents, teachers, administrators, and citizens we will need many tools in our tool bag in order to succeed. Technology is one of the tools which will be vital to that success no matter what your definition of success is.
References
EdTech Action Network. (n.d.). ETAN. Retrieved May 2, 2009, from Children + Technology = America's Future: http://www.edtechactionnetwork.org/technology_schools.html
Pearson Education, Inc. . (2007). PowerSchool. Retrieved May 2, 2009, from PowerSchool: https://ps.meridianschools.org/public/
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