Learning with Technology: Trying it out!

The culminating project for Learning with Technology (EDTC 6431) is a highly developed lesson plan designed for second grade readers. Check out the process by which I brainstormed, researched, planned, and revised this experience over the course of the quarter. Many thanks to my classmates and professor, Dr. Wicks, for great suggestions and guidance along the way!

Check out the entire project right here. 

ISTE Standard #5: Teaching Digital Citizenship

A question to prompt my research: What are some best practice guidelines for teachers of young students when it comes to introducing internet safety?

Private schools, especially schools outside the United States, are not subject to the same legal requirements from the Department of Education on digital citizenship, so although many of these schools have technology resources, the training and policies vary greatly from school to school (more than in public schools, from what I understand from my public school-teaching peers). It may fall to the teacher to develop her own strategy for keeping students safe if these policies aren't fully developed.

In my search for basic tools for early elementary teachers, I found some great starting resources for the youngest learners. PBS Kids actually has a cute online game that teaches basic internet safety and citizenship called Webonauts, which could work well as a primer. It's got fun music and little avatars that will keep kids engaged as they cover Internet 101. For pre-readers, I can picture working through the program with a small group, or perhaps even via projector as an entire class. (Note: The site requires Flash, which makes sense since the copyright says 2010, but at least the content is still relevant.)

From the footer of the site: The Webonauts Internet Academy empowers kids to make responsible and respectful decisions in their online internactions. Taking on the role of a Webonaut, kids explore a series of missions that teach key issues of web safety and digital citizenship. 

The game's motto is Observe, Respect, Contribute, and the design is space-inspired:

As players continue through the game, they begin to learn the importance of their own careful decisions as they develop their earliest digital footprints. Paying attention to the content they encounter (is this appropriate or does it make me feel unsafe?), choosing kindness (say no to online cruelty), and sharing one's own perspective thoughtfully (give, don't just take)--these ideals are all woven into the Webonauts experience.

For schools still working toward longterm policies and practices, the state of Virginia's Department of Education seems to be a pioneer in establishing these rules from the ground up. Look no further than their website, which contains one especially scrupulous document, for every possible digital citizenship scenario (from the mild to most horrifying). 

I think parents and teachers alike will face an uphill battle in raising a new generation of children in the "Wild Wild West" of the internet, but I know the gifts our children receive from a connected world will outweigh the dangers. As long as we do not become complacent in our commitment to keeping them safe, students will benefit in immeasurable ways from the treasure trove of information at our fingertips. It's a massive privilege and responsibility, no doubt.

Survey of Instructional Strategies: What I'll Carry With Me

I've really enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about educational philosophies this quarter in our class, Survey of Instructional Strategies. In many ways, it feels like the "greatest hits" of education, and it has whet my appetite to dive deeper into some big ideas I want to understand more. 

As I reflect on the figureheads we studied and the writings I found most compelling, I'm seeing a trend: The ideas that pull on the heartstrings are my favorite. I look forward to implementing inquiry-based learning and advance organizers in my classroom, absolutely. I am going to get down to nitty gritty teaching techniques! Yes!

Except...I am still chipping away at prerequisite courses and the realities of life (a new baby is due in June, which means my student teaching is still a long way off). And the practical applications feel far away. So the spirit of teaching, and the heart of education? Those warm and fuzzy elements keep me dreaming in the mean time. 

Citizenship in the classroom is especially important to me. Perhaps watching the American election season from a long distance across the ocean has made this feel even more essential, but if we do not prioritize civility and respect in the classroom, we are going to have more and more candidates (and voters!) who act like homegrown terrorists. 

Cultural literacy goes hand in hand with citizenship, but goes a step further to explicitly require students to respectfully acknowledge that the entire nation will not always eat the same food, enjoy the same sports, play the same music, or worship the same god. 

Learner-centered approaches touched a nerve for me as well, knowing how many students suffer the effects of a system designed for one kind of learning mind. Although I am not pursuing a special education endorsement, the message of equality and respect for uniquely gifted children resonated greatly and will certainly shape my personal educational philosophy. 

Our final reading this week by Mortimer Adler also inspired me, especially this bold statement: "We have two fundamental goals in view. One is equipping all the children of this country to earn a good living for themselves. The other is enabling them to lead good human lives" (Adler, n.d.).

It will be a real challenge to distill all this brilliant vision into my personal "takeaways" as a final reflection for the course. But at the very least, it will be an inspirational project (if still a little overwhelming)!

...How I hope kids will feel in my classroom!

References

Adler, M. (n.d.) The Paideia Proposal: An Educational Manifesto. Retrieved via R. Scheuermann's EDU 6526 Session 9 course readings: https://bbweb03.spu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1129501-dt-content-rid-2467020_1/courses/EDU6526_27922_201562/SIS%20Session%209%20Reading%20%28Adler%29.pdf

Scheuerman, R. (2016). Session 6 Transcript: Citizenship and Moral Education. Retrieved from: https://bbweb03.spu.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content_id=_1129490_1&course_id=_89800_1

Scheuerman, R. (2016). Session 7: Learner Centered Approaches. Retrieved from: https://bbweb03.spu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1129492-dt-content-rid-2467014_1/courses/EDU6526_27922_201562/SIS.%20Session%207%20Outline%20%28Learner-Centered.pdf