"How to Fight the New Bullies" by Rosalind Wiseman
I read this article in yesterday's Parade magazine. It details the dangers of cyberbullying, which is basically social bullying that uses the internet and cell phones. You could say it's an old-fashioned "slam book" gone 21st century.
Is this type of behavior inevitable with all the technology kids have access to today? I think the anonymity of the web makes it easier for kids to violate boundaries they wouldn't otherwise. That's why values education, at home and at school, is so important. Parents especially need to teach their children empathy. Empathy is not a one-time lesson, it takes place in many conversations and in critical viewing of the media with your child. If children are just allowed to watch the really anti-social things on television (especially much of the MTV programming) they will develop a world view that says it's okay, and in fact normal, to treat other people meanly and without empathy or sympathy.
Is there anything we can do to stop cyberbullying? Just like we'll never stop all physical bullying, we'll never completely eliminate it. We can, however, decrease the incidence of cyberbullying. Monitoring our childrens' use of technology and listening to a child who says they have been bullied are starts. Accountability is a huge weapon. If a school, or parent, finds out a child has bullied another child the situation should be investigated and handled properly. For both parents and schools that means having to do the unpopular thing and teach a child that their behavior has consequences.
As with much of the brave, new world of technology we are often behind our kids in figuring out all the ways, both positive and negative, this technology can be used.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Journal #4
"From Toy to Tool" by Liz Kolb
This article, From Toy To Tool, outlines how you can bring cell phones into the classroom in a useful role by using audioblogging. The author gives some great ideas for projects and detailed instructions on how to post an audioblog to your blog. I followed the instructions and everything went really well, except the audioblog hasn't been posted. I'll give it one more try later. I'm not sure why it's not on this site, but it is on gabcast.com on channel number 7897.
Should we be allowing cell phones in the classroom? The reality is that cell phones already are in the classroom. I wonder if we wouldn't be more successful in monitoring the use of cell phones if we recognize that they are an integral part of students' lives and teach them ways to use their cell phones in some innovative ways. Sometimes giving a child a privilege encourages them to act more responsibly.
The other question would be, how you handle that some students have cell phones while others do not. I like the options the author gives about educating the students as to the way cell phone plans work and it would also be a good opportunity to point out that parents may have reasons, other than simply financial ones, for not feeling it is appropriate for a child to have a cell phone.
This article, From Toy To Tool, outlines how you can bring cell phones into the classroom in a useful role by using audioblogging. The author gives some great ideas for projects and detailed instructions on how to post an audioblog to your blog. I followed the instructions and everything went really well, except the audioblog hasn't been posted. I'll give it one more try later. I'm not sure why it's not on this site, but it is on gabcast.com on channel number 7897.
Should we be allowing cell phones in the classroom? The reality is that cell phones already are in the classroom. I wonder if we wouldn't be more successful in monitoring the use of cell phones if we recognize that they are an integral part of students' lives and teach them ways to use their cell phones in some innovative ways. Sometimes giving a child a privilege encourages them to act more responsibly.
The other question would be, how you handle that some students have cell phones while others do not. I like the options the author gives about educating the students as to the way cell phone plans work and it would also be a good opportunity to point out that parents may have reasons, other than simply financial ones, for not feeling it is appropriate for a child to have a cell phone.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Journal #3
"Video in the Age of Participation" by Glenn Bull
The article, Video in the Age of Participation, talks about the many ways that digital video can be used in the classroom. It details programs by various entities to disseminate these videos in a way that makes it easy and user-friendly for teachers. It talks about how "deep-tagging" can enable to teachers to easily access the video that they want their class to see. Discovery Educator's Network (DEN) is at the forefront of getting video into classrooms and increasing the "two-way flow of information" by allowing remixing of posted material.
Will teachers embrace the use of this technology? Currently only one-tenth of DEN members actively contribute back into the system. I think that as younger teachers, weaned on YouTube, come into the classroom the answer will be a resounding yes. Also, I think professional education in technology could increase participation.
Will kids embrace this technology? I'm sure they will. This sounds like an exciting tool to allow children to pursue areas that really interest them. Just like last week's article on said, this is bringing the lives we already lead outside into the classroom.
The article, Video in the Age of Participation, talks about the many ways that digital video can be used in the classroom. It details programs by various entities to disseminate these videos in a way that makes it easy and user-friendly for teachers. It talks about how "deep-tagging" can enable to teachers to easily access the video that they want their class to see. Discovery Educator's Network (DEN) is at the forefront of getting video into classrooms and increasing the "two-way flow of information" by allowing remixing of posted material.
Will teachers embrace the use of this technology? Currently only one-tenth of DEN members actively contribute back into the system. I think that as younger teachers, weaned on YouTube, come into the classroom the answer will be a resounding yes. Also, I think professional education in technology could increase participation.
Will kids embrace this technology? I'm sure they will. This sounds like an exciting tool to allow children to pursue areas that really interest them. Just like last week's article on said, this is bringing the lives we already lead outside into the classroom.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Journal #2
"Breathing Fire into Web 2.0" by Justin Hardman and David Carpenter
The article, Breathing Fire into Web 2.0, details the myDragonNet system developed for the Hong Kong International School. This system is a fully integrated web-based system enabling all sorts of curriculum management, calendars, networking, on-line storage, communication--in short all the bells and whistles the internet is capable of. This system is based on the principle that school should be a big part of our cyberlives and we should co-opt some of what the kids are doing anway (mySpace, im, etc) for the lofty goal of education. This system makes it much easier for communication between school, student and parent to take place.
Will a system like this positively affect student performance? I am inclined to think it will. I have seen in my WebCT classes that 24 hour access to assignments and information makes it so much easier to keep on top of schoolwork. It enables you to plan your time and work on your own schedule. I think the variety of ways there are to view assignments (calendar, assignments, syllabus) make it much more likely that a student will have access to a way that works with their particular learning style. For myself I've found that pulling the assignments and due dates for each week from each class and pasting them into a Word document that shows me a schedule of everything I have to accomplish for the week lets me relax and feel good about checking things off my list (very important for us type A's!).
Will a system like this increase teacher-teacher communication and facilitate sharing of ideas? Again, I think it will. What a great way to look at what others are doing and seeing if there's anything that would work with your students. And what a great way to share the ideas and inspirations that you have had in the classroom. I have a girlfriend who is doing her student teaching right now and as we walked this morning she told me of a game her master teacher plays with the students, an idea she had to improve it, and I thought of a way to adapt it to the grade I want to teach. If that kind of collaboration can happen at a school-wide level that can only be a good thing.
The article, Breathing Fire into Web 2.0, details the myDragonNet system developed for the Hong Kong International School. This system is a fully integrated web-based system enabling all sorts of curriculum management, calendars, networking, on-line storage, communication--in short all the bells and whistles the internet is capable of. This system is based on the principle that school should be a big part of our cyberlives and we should co-opt some of what the kids are doing anway (mySpace, im, etc) for the lofty goal of education. This system makes it much easier for communication between school, student and parent to take place.
Will a system like this positively affect student performance? I am inclined to think it will. I have seen in my WebCT classes that 24 hour access to assignments and information makes it so much easier to keep on top of schoolwork. It enables you to plan your time and work on your own schedule. I think the variety of ways there are to view assignments (calendar, assignments, syllabus) make it much more likely that a student will have access to a way that works with their particular learning style. For myself I've found that pulling the assignments and due dates for each week from each class and pasting them into a Word document that shows me a schedule of everything I have to accomplish for the week lets me relax and feel good about checking things off my list (very important for us type A's!).
Will a system like this increase teacher-teacher communication and facilitate sharing of ideas? Again, I think it will. What a great way to look at what others are doing and seeing if there's anything that would work with your students. And what a great way to share the ideas and inspirations that you have had in the classroom. I have a girlfriend who is doing her student teaching right now and as we walked this morning she told me of a game her master teacher plays with the students, an idea she had to improve it, and I thought of a way to adapt it to the grade I want to teach. If that kind of collaboration can happen at a school-wide level that can only be a good thing.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Journal #1
Finding New Ways To Connect by Eleanor Sang Yu
This article addresses the issue of the technology explosion on college campuses. It describes the many devices students have with them in class; laptops, cellphones, i-pods, etc. and how professors are choosing to deal with this new technology.
Question 1. Is this new technology disracting?
The article says "Brain experts, however, say constantly switching attention is not advantageous. Decades of data show that people – including Millennials – make more errors and complete tasks more slowly when trying to do several things at once, said Jordan Grafman, a cognitive neuroscientist with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke." As a student of a generation that does not participate in all the technological multi-tasking it certainly looks to me like it is distracting and not conducive to in-depth thinking about the activity at hand. I can see from just looking around the room that many students are focused more on their cell phones and text messaging than listening to the lecture. However, given that this technology is here to stay, I'm sure the academic world will adapt. I do think though that a drawback to all the student technology in the classroom is that it can lead to a lack of respect for the learning environment.
Question 2. What are the steps teachers are taking to ensure that their classrooms will still be places of learning, even with all the technological distractions?
Many teachers are taking the attitude "If you can't beat them, join them." The article detailed the expanding use of the "clicker." This enables students to participate in class a la "poll the audience" on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" I will be experiencing that myself later this semester when my GES 105 class begins using the clicker. Loading the class with a lot of web involvement and discussion boards is also popular. Personally I really enjoy a class with a web component. I think the fact that it allows students to be able to work at their convenience is a real asset and probably increases participation.
This article addresses the issue of the technology explosion on college campuses. It describes the many devices students have with them in class; laptops, cellphones, i-pods, etc. and how professors are choosing to deal with this new technology.
Question 1. Is this new technology disracting?
The article says "Brain experts, however, say constantly switching attention is not advantageous. Decades of data show that people – including Millennials – make more errors and complete tasks more slowly when trying to do several things at once, said Jordan Grafman, a cognitive neuroscientist with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke." As a student of a generation that does not participate in all the technological multi-tasking it certainly looks to me like it is distracting and not conducive to in-depth thinking about the activity at hand. I can see from just looking around the room that many students are focused more on their cell phones and text messaging than listening to the lecture. However, given that this technology is here to stay, I'm sure the academic world will adapt. I do think though that a drawback to all the student technology in the classroom is that it can lead to a lack of respect for the learning environment.
Question 2. What are the steps teachers are taking to ensure that their classrooms will still be places of learning, even with all the technological distractions?
Many teachers are taking the attitude "If you can't beat them, join them." The article detailed the expanding use of the "clicker." This enables students to participate in class a la "poll the audience" on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" I will be experiencing that myself later this semester when my GES 105 class begins using the clicker. Loading the class with a lot of web involvement and discussion boards is also popular. Personally I really enjoy a class with a web component. I think the fact that it allows students to be able to work at their convenience is a real asset and probably increases participation.
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