This past summer I taught a graduate course that uses technology to support math instruction. Over the course of 5 weeks, my students created lesson plans using Google Docs, developed their own blogs, designed Web Quests powered by Google sites, published podcasts, and produced other educational projects. As always, I warned my students about the dangers of the Internet. However, this time was different. A number of informal conversations revealed that they understood the power of the Internet; both bad and good. Students were already aware of how to make their postings non-listed, how to use privacy settings, as well as other precautions. This might not sound significant. However, I assure you it is. I have taught this type of course various times over the past 7 years and previously, the students’ lack of net awareness was frightening.
However, these teachers were different. When they were in High School, the Internet was already a common household name. More importantly, their Internet experience was not dictated by restrictiveness. Rather, it was used to promote research at their fingertips. At the same time they were made aware of the dangers the Internet can pose if not used judiciously. This has tremendous implications for pedagogical practices in the 21st century.
It is no secret that in the past 5 years web based applications have dramatically matured. Think about how cell phones, Facebook, Wikis, Twitter, You Tube, Google applications, and other Web 2.0 applications have transformed how we communicate. Today we can receive instant weather reports, traffic reports, and other vital information with our handheld devices. Simply put, Web 2.0 applications is the push technology of the late 1990s reaching its true potential. In five years from now, the next generation will laugh at us, as these devices will continue to revolutionize how we communicate and conduct business.
Yet despite it all, some educators fear the cell phone, are frightened by social networking tools, and as such have banned its usage in educational settings. In fact, it seems that our fears have been growing by leaps and bounds. For this reason, observing the first net generation was very telling.
In watching them use technology, I understood their awareness of safe technology usage was due to their High School and college experiences during which they experimented with all kinds of technology applications under the watchful eye of a knowledgeable teacher. Similarly, the students of today desperately need this training and exposure to both computers and handheld devices. Why you may ask? Like it or not if your students are not using cell phones currently, they will use it soon enough.
Will they know how to use it safely? Will they know about on-line predators? Will they know about privacy settings? More importantly, will they know when it is not appropriate to use the cell phone? This will depend on whether we teach students about proper usage and provide them with ample opportunities to use computers and smart phone technology in a classroom environment where they can share their successes and learn from their mistakes.
16 comments:
It is true, we all communicate via technology. In college we have to crate presentations, do research and other projects, which are all done on the web or computer programs. I, for sure, know a lot and that is just from playing around and force learning.
I would have to jump on to PowerPoint, for example, to create a presentation blindly. It is amazing how simple some programs are to use.
Safe technology usage is important. More so for young children, or all children, when it comes to social networking. Children can be so naive. That is why technology education is important.
Vanessa McMellon
Technology is all around us. Students use technology in school, at home and on the go. For this reason it is important for parents and teachers to show students how to use it safely and responsibly. Students today are definitely more aware of the dangers that might be encountered, but parents and teachers should continue to encourage students to use them in a safe way. G. Torres
This course has taught me various ways to engage my students and bring information in a new an exciting way. When I went to high school 21 years ago, the internet was not a household name and cellphones were non existent. I am truly amazed at what I have accomplished this summer. Creating a webquest and a podcast was no easy task. I can't wait ti teach my students and colleagues about what I have learned. I will also definitely use Google docs from now on.
I agree that many of us in the graduate class had past experiences with technology and were aware of the dangers. I feel that it is very important to teach these practices to our students, particularly since many of them participate in social media and sometimes give a lot more information than would be deemed safe by any adult.
So teaching students correct protocols can save their lives. We also want to teach them the art of discretion so that something they posted as children doesn't come back to affect them as they become adults who are entering the job market. Today, companies search for their employees on-line to view their on-line identities and postings. Tomorrow, colleges will be doing the same. So we want to teach our students to practice discretion, as well as safety on the Internet.
Ayesha Long
I think it is important to be knowledgable about being safe with the internet and handheld devices. In our generation we all know this, and will continue to pass down our knowledge. But, you're right, I've had tech savvy and up to date professors since my freshman year of college. Now it is up to us as teachers to share when using a cell phone is appropriate and to be aware of online predators and privacy settings.
Kimberly Braga
I am a proud student of the course described in the blog, and I am grateful to have been part of this learning experience. I am familiar and comfortable with web 2.0 technology I was glad to be a part of a course that broadened my horizons to new technology that I had never explored. I am eager to continue learning and eventually use these technologies in my classes.
Nitzeida George
Taking this course has helped a lot. I love computers and technology and learning about all these new websites and learning how to make a webquest and a podcas has been very interesting. One website I loved was portaportal and I feel that I will use this one day when I have my own classroom.
In five years classrooms might be all computer based and our students need to learn how to use them and where to go and not to go. Some students know how to use them safely and know they shouldn't go on some websites and speak to strangers but other students are naive and they don't. Parents and teachers need to teach the children about everything that is available on the web. If we teach them proper usage and provide them with opportunities then they will successfully use computers and smart phones and we won't have to worry when they are on them.
Nancy Mandarino
There are many good points mentioned in this article. As someone who was in High School when using the internet and its various capabilities were already a common practice, I can fully relate to the information found in this post. I feel very fortuante for the way in which I was introduced to these Web 2.0 tools. My peers and I were at a very adaptable age during this time and it created so many new and exciting opportunities for us as curious, knowledge hungry teenagers. So, it should go without saying that due to my ability to use various forms of technology, I am grateful for this. More than that though, something you mentioned in this article really caught my attention. When you say "their awareness of safe technology usage was due to their High School and college experiences during which they experimented with all kinds of technology applications under the watchful eye of a knowledgeable teacher," the last 6 words are what ring true. Like so many other pieces to the teaching puzzle, knowledgeable teachers are extremely important. In order to have received the best possible instruction, whether it be with learning the ways of technology and various Web 2.0 tools, or a lesson on fractions, teachers must be highly skilled in the content. This is a necessary requirement for teaching students today. As you also mentioned, these children need the same training and exposure to both computers and handheld devices. Teaching them proper usage and exposing them to all the benefits of computers and smart phone technologies is vital.
Courtney Weiner
In this article, I really liked the passage, “we teach students about proper usage and provide them with ample opportunities to use computers and smart phone technology in a classroom environment where they can share their successes and learn from their mistakes.” I agree that if we build a safe classroom environment where students are not threatened to make mistakes with technology usage, children will benefit from the technology learning at most. Even with my own experience in the technology class, I learned a lot of useful techniques which made me to motivate to continue to learn the technology skills positively. Keiko Shari
Nowadays, it is hard to find younger generations who are not computer literate. We grew up playing video games and using the computer and internet. Technology is second nature to us. My three year old nephew wakes up every morning and the first thing he says is, “Where is my I-Pad?” More and more people are internet savvy and therefore are aware of privacy settings and other precautions. We understand the importance of security on the internet because of the media. So, I think that security settings and awareness are being instilled in our youngsters.
However, teachers do need to reinforce the importance of privacy settings and internet security awareness to our young people. Last year, I noticed that some of my fourth grade students were already using Facebook, even though they were not age appropriate to sign up (They lied about their age). When I looked at one of my student’s pages, a beautiful ten year old girl (maybe even nine), it was hard to tell that she was just a young girl by looking at the pictures. The pictures that she posted made her seem like she was much older than she really was. After calling her mother to bring her attention to this and informing her of the dangers that these pictures may cause and asking her to monitor her use of the internet, I decided to include our technology teacher and prepare a lesson about internet awareness. This lesson was very important and the children listened because we mentioned the dangers of the internet. We introduced the students to privacy settings, we told them not to use their real names or include any personal information, and we told them to never accept anyone they do not know as a friend. With the growing use of technology in our classrooms, I think it is imperative for teachers to incorporate a few lessons on how to use the internet safely.
-Alla Priemyshev
Technology is a funny thing because it helps students and also hinders students. I have students who live on their cellphones and would rather type their notes on their phone than write it out with a pen. I don't like this dependency because it is taking students who are capable of writing and desiring "assistive" devices to make their lives easier when they honestly need to learn to not live on the phones.
I thought the article was very interesting. I was someone who feared technology at first. The fear was because of my lack of knowledge in all forms of technology, Over time i have been getting more acclimated to it, though i am never really confident in anything i do, when it comes to technology. i do try, and will always have someone assist me. In the world we live in today, technology plays a vital role in our everyday lives. whether it be in sports, business or the classroom, it is forever changing the way we live our lives.
Basically in the article internet safety is addressed. We as teachers should be aware of this. I know we are all different here however we should take a few steps further to be safe and promote cyber safety among students too.
I am using a DOE computer and sometimes it is annoying when some educational websites are blocked just because they are in foreign languages.
That's my assumption.
Boris Balan
Shauna DeSouza
This is so true, Technology is definitely the way we communicate in todays society. Even a one year old knows how to use a telephone, yet there are some educators who believe that technology should not be used in school. I firmly believe that as a society we must move with the time. If a computer or a telephone is what they know, then we should use this to encourage learning. However I also believe these can have negative effects as they can be used for the wrong purpose and this is why we should continue to monitor our students as they learn.
Technology is important in today's world. Teachers,students and parents use it all the time. Most students are more engaged with technology. I feel children are more aware of the dangers of technology. Parents and teachers should guide children safely. This course has helped me a lot with technology.
I agree with this Article 100%. I feel that students should be taught about the different safety and privacy features on technological devices. I respect all those who do not want the students to be exposed to such devices in a classroom. However, they should still teach students how to use applications safely. As you mentioned "the students of today desperately need this training and exposure to both computers and handheld devices."
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