29 March - Internet Safety

What?
The topic of teaching students about cyber ethics, being safe on the internet, how to prevent/stop cyber bullying, etc.


So What?
As I see the influence that technology has, I become more and more concerned with how impersonal it can seem.  Typing on a computer or texting on a phone is not the same thing as talking to someone in person.  There are definite advantages to being able to communicate via these devices, but I feel that today's students are sometimes not fully appreciating the dangers also associated with their favorite social networking site or how damaging one not thought out text or picture can be.  It is well known that teens think they are invincible.  This has generally been applied to the physical risks teenagers are more apt to take, or that they seem unaware of.  I think this imagined invincibility can also be applied to their actions or inactions in regards to internet safety.  They can take the attitude that bad things happen to other people, not to them.  This of course is not the case and learning this lesson can be a very painful process.

Now What?
As a teacher I want to help students become aware of the consequences associated with their actions.  The campaign I am designing for this class is a great start.  I hope to take these materials as a starting point and expand on them.  Creating a safe environment for our students is a top priority for us as teachers and this includes helping them be safe on the internet.

15 March - Digital Story 2 (Copyright)

What?
The progression of copyright laws.  How the laws of copyright apply to the use of audio and video material in the classroom.

So What?
I made sure to take notes on the "Fair Use" laws and "Creative Commons".  The other rules and regulations were interesting to learn about but I didn't feel like they applied to my situation and there was really no way I would remember all the dates, rules, fines and potential prison times anyway.  I was very relieved to learn that sources would be available to me as a teacher through the Fair Use act.  A lot can be shared and learning enhanced through the Creative Commons and I would like to partake and give back.

Now What?
The digital story is an interesting way to utilize some of the great material that is available.  I hope to be able to get my message across and would like to use it in the future.  I wonder how many teachers are currently using this technology in their classrooms.  It would be awesome to create a digital story library so everyone could access each other's stories.

8 March - Digital Stories 1

What?
The creation of a Digital Story and its relevance to classroom instruction.  The article "Technology a Key Tool in Writing Instruction.

So What?
I enjoyed class last week.  The digital stories presented an emotional tie in to the curriculum.  It was very vivid and dramatic.  I recognized that using videos brought the presentation to a whole new level of engagement, one that will definitely interest students.  The article on technology and writing helped me see the creation of digital stories as a new way for students to connect to their writing and find their voice.  The digital story my group is working on is about recognizing different perspectives that are often left out.  We hope to do so in an upbeat manner since so much of what we talk about in regards to literature is on the heavier side of things.  I have had some trouble picturing how our digital story will come together though.  I am very interested to know what the copyright laws are that pertain to creating digital stories. 

Now What?
I hope to take this this experience into my future classroom.  I would like to actively be engaged in utilizing technology in the classroom.  I can see how digital stories can be used to not only interest students who might otherwise be ambivalent but to also give new insights into those students who are passionate about their topics.  I would really like to master this tool so that I may use it effectively.