I do believe that the increase in digitization such as technology, social media and digital forums
have a place in a classroom and society. There are a multitude of benefits for using technology in a classroom, but there are also many risks. As an educator it is my responsibility to remain informed about the risks and dangers of digitalization and ensure I am teaching my students how to be safe and secure in a technological world. The trick will be finding a way to provide the students with this information without causing a fear of the internet or panic that everything will be negative. Teaching students the correct ways to use the internet, social media, blogs and websites is the greatest advantage teachers have. We can shape the minds of our students by displaying proper uses of the technological tools we use. Having students practice safe use of these tools will be the best opportunity for them to learn the safe and secure ways to correctly use the internet.
The major concerns I have with classrooms being extremely digital are those of cyber-bullying, and website reliability. Growing up in the 90's problems like cyber-bullying didn't happen, and I went to a library where I took out a book to research a topic, so they are something I have minimal experience with. Finding ways to teach my students about the repercussions of cyber-bullying (and bullying) and unreliable websites, is something I feel very strongly toward. I am hoping that situations like this do not happen in my classroom, but I need to be prepared if they do.
I still have much to learn about technology, the internet, social media and all of the great tools I can use online. I am excited and nervous at the same time to incorporate all of the things I am learning into my classroom. I am glad I have taken 'computer' classes, because I would be much further behind had I not. I impatiently await each class because I learn so much in them. As you know, I have great difficulties in them too, but that will come with time.
This past week we had an assignment to create a wiki for our class to use and it is based on digitization. I have attached the link to our wiki page below and added the definitions.
Digital Identity:
- Digital identities are composed of many characteristics and tributes from a person. They are the online presence of an individuals involvement.
Digital Literacy:
- The ability to use digital technology and communication tools to understand and use information
Digital Citizenship:
- Having the knowledge and skills to be respectful of online communities and members
- The students need to be aware of many safety features like identity theft and cyber-bulling
- Students need to know that not all websites are trustworthy and reliable
- The notion that the online and 'real worlds' are separate, therefore online and physical identities are different. As technology is becoming more predominant in society, this notion is no longer valid.
To visit our wiki page, click on the link below.
http://i4edwinter14.wikispaces.com/
Hi Jordana!
ReplyDeleteI really like that you include the happenings of our classes on your blog. I also like that you included the key definitions! Keeps them handy to access.
Like you, all this technology scares me quite a lot... I mean, I am behind EVEN friends my age when it comes to technology, and I am one of the people in my friend group that is going to need to be informed about, and use technology the most. I mean, I don't even have Snapchat... EEP.
This being said, it makes me very concerned for the generation of teachers that are in classrooms right now - I mean, if they are anything like my parents, there is just no hope for those students + technology. HA!
Hi Jordana,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with everything you said in this post. I feel like there is some much out there that it can be overwhelming at times and definitely intimidating. I feel like I am so far behind on things because I grew up in a house that did not have high speed internet and I have never had the newest technology.
I do feel like I have a lot to learn, but so does everyone, even the people we consider to be very tech-savvy. As each new thing comes out, we all fumble our way through using it, learning together and growing together. That is what we have to teach our students, that they need to think if this is a technology they want or need to use and then how they should be using it responsibly.
Oh, and I also really like the name of your blog post!
ReplyDeleteHi Jordana,
ReplyDeleteI too also agree with your blog post. I can remember the first time the internet was brought into my classroom when I was in grade 2! It was such an exciting event for our principal! Anyways, you hit in right on the nose with this post! My only fear of going into the classroom is not being able to keep up with students and the tools that make teaching in the classroom easier and more engaging for both teacher and students, and also being "out of the loop" with their current interests. I'm probably over thinking a lot of this.
Internet for educators is a great course with so much more learning to look forward to!
Jordana,
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of us are in the same boat as you. Growing up, I didn't have access to the technologies that kids have today. I feel like I know so very little about what is all out there and how it can be utilized in the classroom for constructive purposes. That is one of my biggest fears is that there are so many great resources out there but I won't a) either know about them or b) know how to use them. I guess it's all a learning experience. Ps thanks for the definitions!
I remember getting access to the Internet when I was in Grade 5. I was the first person I knew with an Internet connection. Aside from a little research for school purposes, I think I literally just used the Internet to look at X-Men fansites. It was really only about 2000 or so, I think, that the Internet really started to become common in people's homes and in school use.
ReplyDeleteI like how you've laid out the definitions of these key terms very neatly at the bottom of your blog post. I feel like they're phrased in such a way that they could actually be useful for students too, which is nice.
Speaking of 'computer' classes? Who remembers computer labs? Weren't those good times?