Practical+Classroom+Application

Healthy and Practical Classroom Application of Technology Every time teachers plan the use of technology in the classroom an aspect often overlooked in the process is how the lessons and activities relate to the standard of Digital Citizenship, which is one segment of the national standards adopted by the International Society for Technology in Education. One might liken planning for student use of technology to the healthcate system. In the healthcare scenario a series of professional healthcare providers work with individuals to educate, work toward, maintain and insure high standards of physical and mental health for each individual. Things work much the same way in the school setting. A series of educational professionals work together to educate, work toward, maintain and insure high standards of digital health for students. The ISTE standards for Digital Citizenship can be found as follows: students, standard 5 a - d and teachers, standard 4 a - d. In planning student lessons and activities educators should also stop to reflect on how these lessons and activities will impact their personal and professional growth and leadership in the area of healthy digital practice. Digital health can be worked into any lesson or activity. Ask yourself, "How do my plans promote learning and growth for my students and for myself?"
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Often forgotten in the discussion of healthy use of technology in the classroom is the role administrators play in the process. While they are not directly involved in each classroom, they do play a key role school-wide. Sound leadership in this area is a must. The ISTE Standards tor Administrators, 5 a - d, address the ways administrators should lead in regard to Digital Citizenship.  Any discussion of healthy use of technology in the classroom would have to include that of Fair Use. The issue of fair use often confuses educators and students alike. After viewing the following video, accessed at the Center for Social Media at American University, educators should have a clearer view of how fair use applies to the educational setting.

media type="youtube" key="2TO96CpCGE0" height="385" width="480" Resources for Digital Citizenship, Including Fair Use

Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative tutorials provide learning opportunities on topics such as searching for your profile on My Space and Facebook to Internet History and changing Safe Search settings. I would say these tutorials are appropriate for students in grades six and above. They provide valuable information that users often do not stop to think about.  In addition the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative has produced a video for grades K-5 and one for grades 6-8 which address requirements established in the METS and found in the grade level cluster links. Both videos stress keeping safe online. The video for sixth through eighth graders has a particular emphasis on online sexual preditors. However, this video ends leaving the viewer to wonder if there was key content omitted.

The Michigan Department of Education completed and published a draft of the new technology plan in late 2009. Included at the site is a METS Checklistof what students should be addressing at each grade level. Teachers or districts have the ability to indicate where each will be taught, reviewed, mastered and stored using the key symbols located at the top of the chart. Users will need to scroll to the appropriate level and then scroll to the Digital Citizenship standard. Further down on this page are links specific to the various grade level clusters. These links provide information on what students should know by the end of the grade cluster.

Just for Fun: Playing on student's fascenation with underwear, evidenced in the popularity of the Captain Underpants series book series, the Information and Technology Services Department at the University of Michigan has created an interesting set of Internet safety posters. Titled, "Passwords are Like Underwear," the five poster set gives us the facts of password safety in a unique and amusing way. Posters are available for purchase online.

If you are looking to provide your elementary age students with the basics of copyright, fair use and related questions, check out Cyber Bee. Hover over the students sitting at computers. A conversation bubble will appear focusing on a question about copyright and related topics. Click the student and the answer appears. This is very basic and a good introduction to healthy practices concerning copyright and fair use.

When considering healthy online practices for students, educators may want to consider purchasing "Safe Practices for Life Online: A Guide for Middle School and High School." Online safety isn't just about sexual predators. Topics such as identity theft and phishing are also covered. Excersises to be used in the classroom as well as many other links and resources are included. This book by Doug Fodeman and Marje Monroe is well worth the $20.95 (to ISTE members) price tag.

Remix Culture: Fair Use is Your Friend is an informative video podcast brouhgt to us by the Center for Social Media at American University. Viewers will become familiar with how to use the code of fair use in the creation and production of their own video presentations.

The School of Communication at the American University has created and maintains the website for the Center for Social Media. Educators might find the links for Media Literacy and Fair Use and Creative Practice most beneficial. Other useful features include Fair Use Question of the Month, a blog and a link where the reader may go to have fair use questions answered. any educator interested in producing, or having students produce media to be shared online should find this site helpful.

The North Carolina Department of Education has published a clear and concise listing of what constitutes fair use of various materials when used in multimedia presentations.

Leading media educator Renee Hobbs of Temple University has created the following slide show to help add clarity to copyright and fair use for educators. Viewers seeking to learn more should also pay special attention to the related slideshows that pop up at the end of the presentation. Ms. Hobbs was a presenter at ISTE 2010.

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 Resources for Practical Classroom Use of Technology Picardo, Jose. " Top ten tips for using technology in the classroom ." 7 August 2008. Online video clip. YouTube. 6 July 2010. In this four minute video Mr. Picardo offers up what he considers to be his top ten tips for using technology in the classroom. Tips range from using video streaming to creating interactive exercises to social networks and more. While the images of technology being discussed are a bit fuzzy, the advice is sound and the viewer can easily distinguish what is being highlighted. The video concludes with the following statement. "Remember however, to use technology only when it helps you achieve your lesson objectives." This comment alone is sage advice for the classroom teacher.

Look into the Critical Issue: Using Technology to Improve Student Achievement at theis website from the Northcentral Regional Educational Laboratory. There is a lot of reading of small text. There are also no activities to be used in classes. However, the information is sound and certainly provides many points to ponder. The contacts list at the end offers additional pathways to those wanting more information on this issue and related topics.

teAchnology.com is a grocery store site where teachers may shop for lesson plans, tips, themes, rubrics and more. The site invites users to sign up for a free newsletter as well.

At first glance the [|From Now On] (fno) website doesn't look like much. However, this ejournal by Jamie McKenzie. Has much to offer. From the monthly issue to the articles, readers will take away information that will help them effectively use technology in their classrooms. Readers may also purchase Jamie's books at this site.