Comments on: More Important Than Waiting 30 Minutes to Swim After You Eat

By: amandacdykes

amandacdykes — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:25:48 +0000

Thank y’all for the comments. I’m glad others think the same way. I often see so many colleagues never use tech except taking them to computer lab and set them loose to play games. Scares me. And if the teachers saw what I delete off the computers once they leave they may realize that it’s not working.

We so often hear arguments for and against using tech in the classroom. Teaching safety and modeling correct use is reason enough. It’s too important.

By: Philip Cummngs

Philip Cummngs — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:15:51 +0000

I appreciate this post. My personal experience is that my students aren’t as tech savvy as my colleague and I often think they are. And while I would encourage my students to tinker and play in order to figure out a tool, I think it is vital that we embed ethical citizenship conversations into all of our teaching and learning. You are right. They won’t figure that out on their own. Parents and teachers need to partner together to help students understand how to properly engage in the world around them, both online and off.

By: Aviva (@avivaloca)

Aviva (@avivaloca) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Amanda, I love this post of yours, and I think you make a really good point. Students need to be taught how to be safe online (and why to bother), and this should be a shared responsibility between home and school.

Just the other day, I was talking to some of my middle school summer school students about Facebook. They asked me if I have a Facebook account, and I said that I don’t. I mentioned to them the importance of thinking about what they share here. They told me, “Well we can always just delete the account.” I mentioned that what’s on the web, remains on the web, and that it’s often stored on a server somewhere. I shared with these students that employers sometimes look at Facebook accounts before making hiring decisions. I told them this wasn’t a reason not to have an account, but it was a reason to think about what they post. I couldn’t believe how many students were sharing very personal information online.

We have had numerous discussions now, and even activities, about online safety, and it’s great to hear the students already reminding their peers about what they should and shouldn’t share. It’s worth taking the time to teach this!

Aviva