Cyber Safety Website (NETS-T III & IV)

In collaboration with my student peers, we created a Cyber Safety website that advocates and teaches safe, legal, and ethical use of the Internet; while also promoting and modeling digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.

Inspiration (NETS-T I-V)

I used the digital tool Inspiration 9.0 to structure and outline the artifacts that I have created that support the NETS Standards for Teachers. Inspiration 9.0 is great tool for mapping, outlining, writing, and brainstorming ideas and concepts. It effectively communicates ideas clearly and demonstrates understanding and knowledge.

Journal #9: “Point/Counterpoint Wikipedia: Friend or Foe?” (NETS-T I-V)

Hammond, T. & Farhie, D. (2009). Point/counterpoint Wikipedia: friend or foe?. Learning and Leading with Technology, 36(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Point_Counterpoint_Wikipedia_Friend_or_Foe.aspx

Summary:  Authors Thomas Hammond and David Farhie discuss the positive and negative contributions that Wikipedia has on society. Hammond believes that Wikipedia can be a very useful tool, in that it can help your students become critical thinkers and understand the uses of knowledge construction. He also state that Wikipedia should not be used primarily as an information source, but more as a structure source, as this is its best asset. Hammond suggests that students should navigate through Wikipedia and construct their own opinions and learn how to check resources for more accuracy. This is a great learning tool and should be incorporated into the curriculum.

David Farhie, on the other hand, believes that students should not be allowed to rely on Wikipedia as the “be-all, end-all authority” of information resources. Farhie proposes that teachers should be weary of allowing students to use Wikipedia as an information resource, that is, until it can be certified as factually correct information. He encourages teachers to focus not only on content, but also on truthful and factual content.

Question #1: Will I allow my future students to use Wikipedia as an information resource?

As a future educator, I believe that students should be molded into critical thinkers, and they should learn the skills necessary to question sources and information. I will allow my students to use Wikipedia, but not as the only, or main, source of information, but more as a supporting source.

Question #2: Have you personally used Wikipedia as an information resource?

To be honest, when performing school or work assignments, I have used Wikipedia as an information resource, but never as the primary source of information.  More so, I use Wikipedia for day to day questions and concerns. I believe that Wikipedia is a useful tool and I believe in Wikipedia’s message that information should be free to the world. I appreciate that they provide information to the public at no cost.

Journal #8: “Point/Counterpoint: Should Schools Be Held Responsible for Cyberbullying?" (NETS-T III-V)

Bogacz, R, & Gómez-Gordillo, M. (2011). Point/counterpoint: should schools be held responsible for cyberbullying?. Learning and Leading with Technology, 38(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Point_Counterpoint_Should_Schools_Be_Held_Responsible_for_Cyberbullying.aspx

Summary:  Author Renee Bogacz believes that schools should be held responsible for cyberbullying, and that they should take action to stop and prevent it from happening. She places the responsibility on the school administrators, teachers, parents and even the students themselves. Bogacz advises teachers to educate themselves about cyberbullying, and the laws and resources that are in place to help victims. Most importantly, she encourages teachers to listen to their students who come to them reporting any cyberbullying activity. Bogacz persuades school administrators to establish clear and enforceable consequences to cyberbullying and to contact law enforcement immediately after any report of such violation. To prevent cyberbullying, parents should always be involved and know what their children are doing online and with their cell phones, Bogacz cautions.  Students too often are unwilling or afraid to stand up for those who are being bullied, so Bogacz urges students to take responsibility and to report any signs of cyberbullying.  

Miguel Gómez Gordillo argues that schools are not responsible for the actions of children with serious behavioral problems. He claims that is it a societal problem and that parents are at the root of this problem. He recommends that schools should establish a close connection with the families of the students.  He believes that supporting families will allow for a collaborative and complementary education that will lead to a better society. His final say is that healthy families will lead to a healthy society and that schools should support that role.

Question #1: As a future educator, how can I protect all my students from cyberbullying?

I have begun educating myself about what cyberbullying is, how to prevent it, and what to do about it. I also plan to be an active listener and will encourage two-way communication with my students. I plan on establish a trusting classroom environment and have an open-door policy. I believe that these are the first and necessary steps to protecting my students.

Question #2: Do you agree, or disagree, with Miguel Gómez Gordillo, in that the family unit is to blame for many societal problems?

I agree with Gordillo, that the family unit influences and plays a major role in one’s life. However, as a future educator I want to do everything I can to protect and educate my students. Pointing the finger at families and not getting involved is just as bad, or perhaps even worse, than doing the actual bullying. Yes, it is important to collaborate and work together with families, but as educators we must also take personal responsibility and do our part to prevent and stop cyberbullying.

Journal #7: My Personal Learning Network (NETS-T I-V)

What is your PLN and how will it help you as a classroom teacher?

My Personal Learning Network (PLN) has been created keeping in mind the teaching profession that I plan to be a part of, the middle school and high school students I plan to influence, and the subject matter I plan to teach, which include; Spanish, ELL and Bilingual education. My PLN consists of Twitter (a social networking site), Diigo (a social bookmarking site), blogs, Educator's PLN (a personal learning network/discussion forum for educators) and ISTE Community Niing (an educator's discussion forum). My PLN will help me be a resourceful teacher and this will allow me to keep my students engaged with new and interesting lesson plans. I also intend to use technology in my classroom and my PLN is a great way to stay up to date on emerging technology and tools.

Discuss your use of Twitter. Who is in your network? Why? Reflect on your participation on an educational chat.

I am relatively new at using Twitter; however I have found it quite easy to use and very resourceful. I have decided to add various educators that specialize in technology, language acquisition, foreign language, and Spanish to my Twitter network. I particularly like the communication that flows between the foreign language educators and how they share resources, tips and lesson plan ideas. I have also included some of my fellow student peers to my network as we have developed a great working and collaborative relationship. 

On Monday, March 28, 2011, I participated on an educational chat (#ELLCHAT) that was being held on Twitter. ELLCHAT is a weekly Twitter discussion held on Mondays at 6pm (PST) and it is dedicated to the issues facing Second Language Learners, also known as English Language Learners (ELL). The topic that was discussed on March 28^th was “The benefits of growing up bilingual”. I especially enjoyed this educational chat, because I too grew up bilingual and was placed in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes early in my educational years. I find it refreshing and inspirational that educators today are discussing and finding ways to provide an equitable education for English Language Learners.

Discuss your use of Diigo as a networking tool. Describe what you tagged “PLN” and why.

Diigo is a social bookmarking website that enables you to bookmark and tag web-pages and then share them with the people in your network. I have bookmarked and tagged with “PLN” the web-pages that I found to be a great resource and that will help me be a better educator. These websites include; the Educator’s PLN, Multi-Lingual Living, Moving Forward (education blogs), and ISTE Community Ning. I have used Diigo to network with educators that promote a healthy, equitable and diverse education. Technology educators also provide me with new technology tools and advances that I may not have otherwise known about.

Discuss which digital discussion forum you joined and why. Reflect on the video you watched. What did you learn? Will this be useful in your future classroom?

I decided to join the Educator’s PLN discussion forum and the ISTE Community Ning. I especially enjoy the collaboration and support that takes place within both of these communities, and I can appreciate the information that is being shared and promoted. The video “Diffusing Anger and Aggression” is found on the ISTE Community Ning and it provides educators with a calm approach to handle unacceptable behavior by students. This video advises the teacher to take the following steps to dissolve the situation: speak privately to the student, identify the problem, ask the student to “take care” of the problem, present options on how they can “take care” of the problem, and acknowledge cooperation. Although I hope to never have to diffuse anger and aggression in a classroom setting, this video provided me with useful information on how to approach and manage a difficult situation. To view this video click here.

    

Journal #6: “Grow Your Personal Learning Network” (NETS-T I, III-V)

Warlick, D. (2009). Grow your personal learning network. Learning and Leading with Technology, 36(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-march-april-2009.aspx

Summary: David Warlick is an avid personal learning network (PLN) supporter and author of “Grow Your Personal Learning Network”. In his article, Warlick discusses the importance of creating, maintaining and learning from PLN’s. He states that it is “imperative” for educators to use PLN’s if they want to stay connected to the changing world. PLN’s offer educators great resources, which include; information sources, lesson plans, current events and trends, new opportunities, technology resources, and access to potential collaborators, all at a rapid pace. According to Warlick, there are three types of PLN’s; first, there are the personally maintained synchronous connections, secondly, the personally and socially maintained semi-synchronous connections, and thirdly, the dynamically maintained asynchronous connections. The major difference between these three PLN’s is the time (real time, intermittently, or independently) in which they are used to collaborate and network. Warlick concludes that a PLN’s drawback may be that it does not allow for easy cultivation of views and perspectives that are different from your own, due to the fact that most people in your PLN all share similar worldview ideas, goals and beliefs. Ultimately, in the educator’s realm, PLN’s are designed to help you network and have access to resources, otherwise unknown to you, to better the learning experience for your students and for yourself.

Question #1: What PLN tools have you previously used? Did you find them difficult to use and will you incorporate these tools in the future as an educator?

I am familiar with Twitter, Skype, Diigo, Ning, wikis, blogs, Google Docs, Google Sites, Facebook, IM’s, RSS, e-mail, and texting. Although I do not consider myself a “tech guru” most of these tools are very easy to use and I find myself feeling more comfortable and using them more frequently. I definitely plan to use these tools in the classroom, by either incorporating them into the lesson plans or using them as a means to communicate with students, parents and colleagues.

Question #2: Creating, maintaining, and growing a PLN can be time consuming. What steps will you take to make sure that you are not spending an excessive amount of time on your PLN, but still learning from it?

I was concerned that while managing my PLN, I may lose track of time and why it was created in the first place. Author Warlick advices educators to spend approximately 15 minutes daily learning, navigating and sharing with your PLN. I will make a conscious effort to spend no less than 10 minutes a day and no more than 20 minutes a day working with my PLN. I want to make sure that I am cultivating it while not abusing it.