I have been looking forward to this reflection for some time now. I have several strong opinions about this course, and feel that the feedback gained from the people who have completed the 11 Tools is extremely important.
First off, I want to say that the 11 Tools for the 21st Century Learner has been one of the best staff development workshops I have ever completed!! I gained a huge amount of valuable knowledge regarding technology, and feel very comfortable as I begin to develop lessons and projects utilizing the 11 Tools.
I feel that this course should be required for all classroom teachers. There is no way to avoid the transition toward a “wired” society, and educators must stay at the forefront in order to meet the constantly changing needs of our students. This course is an excellent way to familiarize and even master many different technology tools that are relevant to the classroom. That being said, I do have some issues with this course that should be addressed.
My biggest concern is the time and credit associated with completing this course. According to the profile, we will receive 9 hours of non-contract credit for finishing the required assignments. I am under the impression that credit hours should reasonably correlate with actual time. If this is true, then 9 hours is a gross underestimate of the time it takes to complete all 11 Tools. I consider myself very computer literate and technologically savvy. While I was not familiar with all of the Tools, I had no trouble following the directions given for completing the assignments, and I did not require any outside assistance. I did at times feel that my existing knowledge base was essential in completing some of the assignments. I often wondered how someone with less computer experience might have reacted to this project. How much did they struggle? How great was their frustration?
A conservative estimate of the actual time I spent on this project would fall in the 30-40 hour range. I recognize that I probably went way beyond what is required for each tool, and could have finished in less time. Though, even with bare minimal effort, there is no way I could have completed this entire project anywhere close to the estimated time frame. However, I think my willingness to spend the extra hours directly relates to the importance of this staff development. I really internalized each tool, and tried to post thoughtful and meaningful information about my experiences, and most of all, my plans for classroom integration. Anything less would still meet the requirements to get credit, but would defeat the purpose of this extremely valuable course.
I also feel that my fairly quiet summer allowed me to truly embrace this staff development, and devote the time needed to create something of quality. I am not sure that my final opinion would be as positive, if the pressures of a family, summer job, or constant traveling were dominating my time. Had this course been required during the school year, I’m afraid I would have felt immediately consumed and overwhelmed.
I hope that my criticism of the 11 Tools staff development is viewed as constructive. Any negative feelings about this course stem from an intense desire to improve it. I feel very strongly about the benefits I acquired from completing it, and hope that with some tweaking, it will become a required district initiative.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Tool #11
I feel that this post is the most important of the course. Ending with Digital Citizenship has kept it fresh in my mind, and helped me realize that it should be addressed in my classroom before ANY of the preceding tools.
The technology train has started rolling, and our kids are already on board. It is the responsibility of adults, parents and educators to emphasize and teach Digital Citizenship to our students. We don't assume that kids come to elementary school knowing everything about manners, safety, or academics; so why would we assume they already understand Digital Citizenship? We would never leave children unattended on the playground, so why would we think they can handle technology alone? Just like anything else, successful teaching of Digital Citizenship should happen in age appropriate steps, with constant monitoring. If we aren't doing our part to educate kids about the appropriate use of technology, then we alone are responsible when negative, even dangerous events occur.
There is much to teach about Digital Citizenship, but I have narrowed down what I feel to be the most relevant and important topics.
Safety
The teaching of Internet and technology safety is extremely important. It can be easy for student's to assume that they are safe while using technology, because they are comfortable in the environments where technology is accessible, e.g., home and school.
We teach our children to never talk or interact with strangers. But have we also taught them that strangers can be found online? Kids need to understand that posting personal information or pictures can be as dangerous as climbing into a car with someone that they don't know.
In my classroom, I will teach technology safety in numerous ways. I think that an open discussion about the potential dangers is an important method to get the conversation started. It also will allow me to gain feedback and perspective on my student’s existing opinions. Posted guidelines, as well as constant verbal reminders are also important.
Validity
Technology and Internet advances have made the accessibility to information incredibly easy. When used appropriately, the Internet can be a great tool for research. However, it should never be the only source of acquiring information. Our student's need to understand that not everything they read online is valid, and that the Internet should be used in conjunction with other resources like the library.
Students should also know how to appropriately cite sources, including those obtained online. The ease of finding information on the web might make student’s think that it is up for grabs. The ethical and legal implications of plagiarism should be stressed, so that kids do not develop bad research habits that could follow them into adulthood.
Research projects in my classroom will most likely center around a particular artist. I would allow students to use one online or Internet resource, but would require other sources as well. Continuing to familiarize kids with the library, as well as the appropriate means in finding primary sources, is key in balancing the ways our students gain information.
Etiquette
Learning good manners is an important part of socialization. We want our kids to interact appropriately with others. However, please’s, thank you’s and the Golden Rule should extend beyond face to face contact. As more and more human interaction occurs via technology, we must make sure that good etiquette is practiced across all means of communication.
Emily Post may not have had email, text messages, or blogs in mind when writing her book on etiquette, but she certainly understood the importance of developing good communication practices. Just because we may not be looking a person in the eye, does not mean that they deserve any less respect. If anything, we should be more mindful of how we communicate through technology, because we don’t have the benefit of other clues like tone and body language. Therefore, it is easier for words and phrases to be misinterpreted.
The teaching of manners with regard to technology is essential, but it should not stop there. We need to address another more serious issue that has recently been making headlines. The rise in online harassment, or “cyber-bullying”, is a phenomenon that can have devastating and even tragic results. The lack of face to face confrontation can lead to an environment where people feel comfortable behaving in a manner that would never happen under different circumstances. Unfortunately, cases of cyber-bullying have involved children in elementary school.
To me, the old saying about “sticks and stones” does not hold much wisdom. In fact, I feel that words, both positive and negative, can have powerful effects that last much longer than anything physical. Using methods like, open discussions, role playing and active monitoring, students will come to understand and appreciate the strength of words, and the importance of appropriate communication through technology.
“Manners are like primary colors, there are certain rules and once you have these you merely mix, i.e., adapt, them to meet changing situations.” -Emily Post
The technology train has started rolling, and our kids are already on board. It is the responsibility of adults, parents and educators to emphasize and teach Digital Citizenship to our students. We don't assume that kids come to elementary school knowing everything about manners, safety, or academics; so why would we assume they already understand Digital Citizenship? We would never leave children unattended on the playground, so why would we think they can handle technology alone? Just like anything else, successful teaching of Digital Citizenship should happen in age appropriate steps, with constant monitoring. If we aren't doing our part to educate kids about the appropriate use of technology, then we alone are responsible when negative, even dangerous events occur.
There is much to teach about Digital Citizenship, but I have narrowed down what I feel to be the most relevant and important topics.
Safety
The teaching of Internet and technology safety is extremely important. It can be easy for student's to assume that they are safe while using technology, because they are comfortable in the environments where technology is accessible, e.g., home and school.
We teach our children to never talk or interact with strangers. But have we also taught them that strangers can be found online? Kids need to understand that posting personal information or pictures can be as dangerous as climbing into a car with someone that they don't know.
In my classroom, I will teach technology safety in numerous ways. I think that an open discussion about the potential dangers is an important method to get the conversation started. It also will allow me to gain feedback and perspective on my student’s existing opinions. Posted guidelines, as well as constant verbal reminders are also important.
Validity
Technology and Internet advances have made the accessibility to information incredibly easy. When used appropriately, the Internet can be a great tool for research. However, it should never be the only source of acquiring information. Our student's need to understand that not everything they read online is valid, and that the Internet should be used in conjunction with other resources like the library.
Students should also know how to appropriately cite sources, including those obtained online. The ease of finding information on the web might make student’s think that it is up for grabs. The ethical and legal implications of plagiarism should be stressed, so that kids do not develop bad research habits that could follow them into adulthood.
Research projects in my classroom will most likely center around a particular artist. I would allow students to use one online or Internet resource, but would require other sources as well. Continuing to familiarize kids with the library, as well as the appropriate means in finding primary sources, is key in balancing the ways our students gain information.
Etiquette
Learning good manners is an important part of socialization. We want our kids to interact appropriately with others. However, please’s, thank you’s and the Golden Rule should extend beyond face to face contact. As more and more human interaction occurs via technology, we must make sure that good etiquette is practiced across all means of communication.
Emily Post may not have had email, text messages, or blogs in mind when writing her book on etiquette, but she certainly understood the importance of developing good communication practices. Just because we may not be looking a person in the eye, does not mean that they deserve any less respect. If anything, we should be more mindful of how we communicate through technology, because we don’t have the benefit of other clues like tone and body language. Therefore, it is easier for words and phrases to be misinterpreted.
The teaching of manners with regard to technology is essential, but it should not stop there. We need to address another more serious issue that has recently been making headlines. The rise in online harassment, or “cyber-bullying”, is a phenomenon that can have devastating and even tragic results. The lack of face to face confrontation can lead to an environment where people feel comfortable behaving in a manner that would never happen under different circumstances. Unfortunately, cases of cyber-bullying have involved children in elementary school.
To me, the old saying about “sticks and stones” does not hold much wisdom. In fact, I feel that words, both positive and negative, can have powerful effects that last much longer than anything physical. Using methods like, open discussions, role playing and active monitoring, students will come to understand and appreciate the strength of words, and the importance of appropriate communication through technology.
“Manners are like primary colors, there are certain rules and once you have these you merely mix, i.e., adapt, them to meet changing situations.” -Emily Post
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