For some time now we have been discussing the best approach to teach students about Web 2.0 tools and internet safety.
While most students experience the internet as young as kindergarten, we protect them from certain sites as a means of keeping them "safe". As students begin to explore the internet for the purpose of searching for information, it becomes increasingly difficult to protect them from unsavory web sites or content that may be inappropriate given their age. Young students (and even some adults) tend to believe if something is found on the internet, it must be reliable. Students need to be taught that this is not always the case and that they must learn how to determine if their source provides reliable information. Sorry, no wikipedia bashing here but it is a perfect example of a site often used by students. There is a great deal of legitimate information on wikipedia but that is not always the case. With respect to safety, we want students to learn as early as possible that there are predators on the web and keeping personal information private is the safest course for them.
We have had great success in exposing students to Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, wikis, social networking and podcasting. There are many educational applications for these tools. Thus far, many teachers are exposing students to these tools while teaching their content. While integrating technology and the tools available on the web is our goal, we have heard from many students they wish they could be exposed to the technology separate from their course content. Each summer we have many teachers doing curriculum development alignment and revisions. This summer a group of talented teachers have come together to identify technology benchmarks for our students at each grade level. In addition to keyboarding, beginning this year students will be exposed to various tools on the web. Obtaining information, social networking, collaboration and internet safety will be a focus both in classrooms and computer classes. It is our hope that by doing so students will have a myriad of tools that will help deepen their knowledge in the content areas as they progress through middle and high school.
It has now been legislated that students are given direct instruction in internet safety. Since we began our technology initiative we have always discussed internet safety but it has not been as prescribed as it could be. In addition to teaching students about predators and safety precautions, they also need to be taught about intellectual property (ownership of information written on the web), copyright infringement as well as how to protect their work posted on the web. By next week, a curriculum guide will be developed for teachers to use at the various grade levels. This is happening as I type this post. I am anxious to see the product our talented teachers develop. Once completed, I will post more specifics. Digital literacy is a 21st Century skill we know our students must acquire. This will be the foundation upon which those skills can learned.
5 comments:
Curriculum guides that are being adopted for the technology use in classrooms, at different grade levels. Now this is what I think is cutting edge. I was involved in teacher interviews and realized that a teacher candidate at second grade level in a W. NY BOCES (special ed) will be able to expose students to web 2.0 skills and some teachers at the High School level have no idea how far back students may have been exposed to this technology in their home schools i.e. students have learnt the fundametals and the 9th grade teacher can use terminology ie blogging, wikis ustreaming etc. without elliciting a blink from the students - hence the need for curriculum guides! I will definately be keeping a eye on your blog.
Once the benchmarks are uploaded to our wiki and Ning, I will let you know or post some here. Thank you for your support Una.
I think the first step is educating the educators. Having recently been though a masters program for teachers, I was a little disappointed with the amount of technology that fellow students had in their grasp. I find that teachers who are intimidated by technology are likely to discount its use. The content I would suggest we provide to teachers can be found here: http://graymattersnv.com/ed-tech/
Students, particularly in HS, are well versed in netowrking sites and their benefits. I think Teachers need to keep up, rather than the other way around. That's one reason I've created my own blog site to interact with them.
Meanwhile: Great site! Now tht I've discovered it, I'll be reading it with great interest.
Kirk, I couldn't agree more. We have a teacher on special assignment as well as our tech department providing a lot of training to teachers. They are as the literature has so named them, "digital immigrants". Point well taken and I appreciate the resource.
In terms of the college preparation, it is probably the area new teachers lack and complain about.
twitter. period.
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