I had a friend say something interesting to me the other day. She told a story of how she started developing certain symptoms: headaches, fevers, and a sore throat. After gazing down her throat with the help of a flashlight and the bathroom mirror, she up and decided that she had Strep Throat. So she called to make an appointment with the Doctor and (luckily) was able to get in by that afternoon. When she got to the Doctors, she relayed her symptoms and said "I'm pretty sure it's Strep Throat, I looked up all the symptoms". The Doctor asked her if she was studying medicine, and she replied that she had just searched "Strep Throat" on Wikipedia. Sure enough, her test came back as a mild form of Strep Throat, and with a prescription for some antibiotics, she was on her way.
This story just made me thing of how easy it was for her to look on Wikipedia, and get the answer. Technology has changed our lives so much in the past few years, it's crazy to think that the answer to almost every question comes right after the "Enter" button.
In my major, it is crucial when researching for an essay, that our research comes from a variety of sources: books, articles, journals, published essays, etc. Yet when it comes to our daily lives, it's far too easy to just Google any question that we have, because the answer is always at our finger tips. I haven't picked up the phone book in months because if I mapquest whatever business I'm looking for, it can tell me where it's located, how far (in km or miles) it is from my house, and if there's a faster way without hitting major traffic.
As technology has become more apparent in our daily lives, it's safe to say that it's just as effective in the classroom, if used properly. In the article titled "Linking Technology, Learning, and School Change", it states that "With the Internet, William and his students have access to a richer set of resources than ever before". I believe that while it's still important that the students understand how to use the good old library catalogue, they should also be allowed to search the net for information too. After all, there's great stuff out there and why should we ever limit resources?
But here's where we run into a problem: As educators, we need to be able to decide whether or not it's safe for students to be searching the web. The dangers of online activity should be taught and enforced just as much as we teach 'what to do when the fire alarm goes off'.
If I were to incorporate Blogs in my classroom, I'd like to focus on Information and Communication Technology for Grade 6. The Alberta Program of Studies for ICT states that "Students will use electronic research techniques to
construct personal knowledge and meaning", and I would incorporate the dangers of online activity for a lesson like this one. Although there are many topics that need to be addressed when it comes to children online (adult predators is the first one that comes to my mind), one particular topic I would focus on is Online Bullying with the students themselves. I think awareness is a crucial part in stopping online bullying, so it would be imperative in my classroom that if the students earned the right to go on the net, they must be aware of this problem.
Once we have gone over the dangers of online activity, I would have the students use their blog to design their own contract/ code of ethics, stating that they will use caution when working online. I would also emphasize that there will be a NO TOLERANCE POLICY. Unless parents have purchased certain programs for their computers at home, it is impossible to monitor every site that a child visits on their home computer, so it's up to the Educators AND parents, to reinforce the seriousness of safety.
I came across some websites when doing some research on the dangers of online activity, and these two really hit home. It's imperative that when we teach about online dangers, we teach every aspect. Now, not only must we stress the importance of potential predators harming our children, we must be aware that sometimes, it's our children harming other children.
The first is about how cyber bullying is happening more frequently, and not just to students, but to teachers too.
The next is a heartfelt story about a young boy who took his own life due to cyber bullying.
Overall, I think that when it comes to technology in the classroom, it should be treated just as seriously as any other danger in the schools. Like many other things, awareness is the best preventative method.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
*~Hello-Yasas-Bonjour-Ola-Sawadeeka~*
Well to start off, my name is Andrianna Tsentouros and this is my first 'successful' attempt at blogging! I was born and raised in small town Kenora Ontario and I have no idea how I ended up in Southern Alberta, but here I am as a fourth year English/ Ed. major. I'm the youngest of 4, I LOVE dogs, and in my 20 years of life experiences, I've come to the conclusion that when the tough gets going, all you have to do is take a moment to yourself, put on a good song, and just dance!
I'm fairly new to this whole bloggging world and I think it's intimidating whether you're a computer junkie or not. For me, the scariest part is figuring out the system in itself- this button does this and so on. But for others, it may be trying to find the words you want to say or the look you'd like your blog to have. After all, it's described as an 'online journal' and journals are very personal objects. My journal (and I wont tell you where I keep it) is my most prized possession. I adore it right down to it's creased spine, wrinkly pages, and fraying bookmark. The last thing I'm about to do is scan it's pages and post them on the world wide web! One way to look at a 'journal' or 'diary' is that it's a form of communication.
Looking at the pros and cons of technology, I think it's safe to say that overall, technology has bettered the world. Never before have things become so easy! Online shopping, keeping in touch with loved ones, organizing pictures, and paying that parking ticket. I wont even touch on the advances technology has had in medicine. But one of the cons that sticks out in my mind is that by connecting people from one side of the globe to the other, we've put a new twist on the communication idea...
For instance when I walk into a bank I'm more likely to stand in line for an ATM before going up to a teller. Sooner or later, we might not even need bank tellers. It's gotten to the point where I'm facebooking friends to wish them a "Happy Birthday" rather than picking up the telephone. How many times have you tried to call a business, and rather than talking to an actual person, you get a "Sherry" who can recite a list of extension numbers. It's like poor Mr. Bucket who doesn't get to screw on toothpaste lids anymore (if you've seen the movie, that is). By making communication SO easy, we've almost taken out the main ingredient- that is, the person to person relation you get that comes along with communicating.
I'd like to think of myself as a people person. After all, I didn't spend the last 6 years of my life serving tables because of my secretarial skills. One of the things I love about teaching is the relations you get to have with people. I just couldn't have a career that didn't involve that. Blogging in education is a whole new ball game. I enjoy it because it gives students the freedom to say what they'd like. It's great for the student who is too shy to raise their hand, or when a brilliant idea dawns on you 3am. It also gives a way for students to communicate with each other. But when blogging is introduced, I think that it's important that it doesn't replace anything in the classroom. It's really just a great way to share ideas, elaborate on topics discussed in class, or to ask questions.
I don't think that technology (if used properly) is a threat in anyway to education. I don't see teachers being replaced by robots or online action figures. Now if people start ordering their lunches online and I so happen to be out of a summer job, that's fine. But the profession of teaching is one that is so heavily based on the idea of communication, it seems unrealistic to think that a teacher would be replaced. Blogging just adds to the variety in how one can teach a lesson, and is a reminder how versatile teaching can be.
"To accomplish great things we must not only dream, but act."- Bill Blackman
I'm fairly new to this whole bloggging world and I think it's intimidating whether you're a computer junkie or not. For me, the scariest part is figuring out the system in itself- this button does this and so on. But for others, it may be trying to find the words you want to say or the look you'd like your blog to have. After all, it's described as an 'online journal' and journals are very personal objects. My journal (and I wont tell you where I keep it) is my most prized possession. I adore it right down to it's creased spine, wrinkly pages, and fraying bookmark. The last thing I'm about to do is scan it's pages and post them on the world wide web! One way to look at a 'journal' or 'diary' is that it's a form of communication.
Looking at the pros and cons of technology, I think it's safe to say that overall, technology has bettered the world. Never before have things become so easy! Online shopping, keeping in touch with loved ones, organizing pictures, and paying that parking ticket. I wont even touch on the advances technology has had in medicine. But one of the cons that sticks out in my mind is that by connecting people from one side of the globe to the other, we've put a new twist on the communication idea...
For instance when I walk into a bank I'm more likely to stand in line for an ATM before going up to a teller. Sooner or later, we might not even need bank tellers. It's gotten to the point where I'm facebooking friends to wish them a "Happy Birthday" rather than picking up the telephone. How many times have you tried to call a business, and rather than talking to an actual person, you get a "Sherry" who can recite a list of extension numbers. It's like poor Mr. Bucket who doesn't get to screw on toothpaste lids anymore (if you've seen the movie, that is). By making communication SO easy, we've almost taken out the main ingredient- that is, the person to person relation you get that comes along with communicating.
I'd like to think of myself as a people person. After all, I didn't spend the last 6 years of my life serving tables because of my secretarial skills. One of the things I love about teaching is the relations you get to have with people. I just couldn't have a career that didn't involve that. Blogging in education is a whole new ball game. I enjoy it because it gives students the freedom to say what they'd like. It's great for the student who is too shy to raise their hand, or when a brilliant idea dawns on you 3am. It also gives a way for students to communicate with each other. But when blogging is introduced, I think that it's important that it doesn't replace anything in the classroom. It's really just a great way to share ideas, elaborate on topics discussed in class, or to ask questions.
I don't think that technology (if used properly) is a threat in anyway to education. I don't see teachers being replaced by robots or online action figures. Now if people start ordering their lunches online and I so happen to be out of a summer job, that's fine. But the profession of teaching is one that is so heavily based on the idea of communication, it seems unrealistic to think that a teacher would be replaced. Blogging just adds to the variety in how one can teach a lesson, and is a reminder how versatile teaching can be.
"To accomplish great things we must not only dream, but act."- Bill Blackman
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