Throughout this semester I have looked at many Internet Tools to implement in the classroom. I have learned about new tools that I probably would have never thought about using and I have learned more about tools that I have been using, so that I can use them in new and exciting ways. I feel like this course has been very worthwhile and I look forward to utilizing my new knowledge in my job as a classroom teacher. I hosted a technology workshop this semester where I was able to share with my coworkers some neat online tools. I look forward to being able to do more of that in the future and I feel more confident about completing that task because of this course.
My school recently started a Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) initiative. Through this initiative, the students are allowed to bring their own electronic devices to school in order to use them in the classroom. I was very excited about this and immediately began to plan out ways for the students to use their smart phones and tablets as student response systems, etc. However, I soon hit a snag. Not every student had an electronic device that they could bring to school. What should I do when faced with this problem?
My school only has 3 computer labs available for use in a school of 1300 students and 0 mobile carts. I spoke with my principal about spending this year’s SPLOST money on mobile carts or a few devices for each classroom. He seemed very open to the idea. It is the 21st century and students are expected to know how to use digital tools and resources in order to search for job openings, pay bills, communicate, and as a tool to learn about information. Schools must ensure that all students have equal access to these tools and not just students from higher socioeconomic homes. Hohlfield, Ritzhaupt, and Barron found in their study that higher socioeconomic high schools were more likely to provide technology opportunities to the community in which they reside than lower socioeconomic high schools (2010). There is a great divide between the communities that have high income residents and the communities that have lower income residents when it comes to technology and students having access to it. We must do something to change that and I feel like the department of education should focus on ways to change that. They should educate districts on how to spend their money on supplies so that students will have access to technology. They can focus on buying ipads vs. buying textbooks. Baron, Walter, Martin, and Schatz conducted a study of Silcon Valley high schools and found that while many students had access to technology, those who had access at home were more likely to be using it for fluency building activities (2010). We must find ways for all students to have access to technology so that they can have authentic learning experiences. I have found that students are willing to share their technology with other students but the ideal scenario would be for students to have his or her own device so that you could pinpoint what each student needs. Schools should consider opening computer labs before and after school for students who do not have access at home. Purchasing more mobile labs would also ensure that technology is used in the classroom. Schools should also consider a one-to-one initiative and the cost and savings associated with implementing that versus purchasing textbooks. Resources Barron, B., Walter, S. E., Martin, C. K., & Schatz, C. (2010). Predictors of creative computing participation and profiles of experience in two Silicon Valley middle schools . Computers & Education (54), 178-189. Hohlfeld, T. N., Ritzhaupt, A. D., & Barron, A. E. (2010). Connecting schools, community, and family with ICT: Four-year trends related to school level and SES of public schools in Florida . Computers & Education (55), 391-405. Before the Internet was available in every home, students had to learn about other cultures and places from around the world by reading textbooks or watching movies. Now students are but a few words in Google and clicks away from learning about far away places and people. Students are able to learn about any culture they choose and the speed at which the Internet runs allows breaking news from around the world to travel almost instantaneously. When students begin to realize that they are a part of a global community, I believe that they gain a respect for other cultures and understand more about diversity in their community.
Teachers can now keep a blog (much like this one) where anyone can access it and read about what is happening in the classroom. Students can ask questions from homework that they may be unsure about. Parents can always be up to date and contact a teacher easily without having to physically come and meet with teachers at the school. The Internet and blogging also allows students to communicate with their peers around the world. They do not have to wait for the mail to deliver letters around the world, their email can be there within seconds or comments appear instantaneously. The Internet is an amazing invention that has changed the way the world communicates. It is important that we teach students about other cultures and the globe so that they can increase their awareness of the world around them and become better citizens. Most teachers realize how valuable the Internet is in today’s classroom. However, both teachers and students must use it in a safe and responsible way in order for it to be effective.
The University of Oklahoma Police Department published a website on Keeping Kids Safe Online that provides parents with tips on keeping their child safe. One of the obvious tips that they recommend, that is used in every school, is the use of an Internet filter in order to filter out inappropriate materials. These filters are constantly updated but they can never be 100% in filtering inappropriate materials. It is therefore important that we prepare our students for what to do. Will Richardson states, “My students and I spent a good deal of time talking about how responsible use meant not just refraining from actively seeking out these inappropriate sites, but also reacting appropriately when they were happened upon (2010).” A teacher can be a great influence upon their students by modeling how to react and what to do when presented with an inappropriate situation. This will help to keep many students safe while using the Internet. Many students are unaware of the consequences of the choices they make when it comes to the Internet. Edudemic posted an article called The Teacher’s Guide to Keeping Students Safe Online. This article provides many great tips for teachers, students, and parents to having a safe educational experience with today’s technology. One of the tips that I thought was really neat was about texting and doing a demonstration for the students about how texting works and how you can never really delete a text. It can always be forwarded and changed so students should be careful about who and what they text. Nancy Willard provided four key components to consider on keeping students safe on the Internet. In her article Keeping Kids Safe Online, Williard states that an internet safety strategy should focus on educational purpose, educate about safe and responsible use, supervise and monitor, and discipline (Willard, 2002). It is very important that schools and teachers discipline students who willfully misuse the Internet in order to show to students that such behavior will not be tolerated. Students will begin to see that misuse takes away from the educational experience and the gift of resources that the Internet has to offer. Resources: Edudemic. (2011, 10). The Teacher's Guide To Keeping Students Safe Online. Retrieved 2013, from Edudemic: http://edudemic.com/2011/10/student-online-safety-guide/ Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. University of Oklahoma Police Department. (2008). Keeping Kids Safe Online- The Police Notebook. Retrieved 2013, from University of Oklahoma Police Department: http://www.ou.edu/oupd/kidtool.htm Willard, N. (2002). Education World: Keeping Kids Safe Online. Retrieved 2012, from Education World: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech119.shtml |
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January 2014
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