Google Apps and Surveys

              Google is becoming a staple in education across the world. More than half of all devices sold for classrooms are Google Chromebooks (Taylor, 2015). This is up from 1% in 2012 (Taylor, 2015). Google can be used in so many ways that it makes sense that students and educators are using Google as often as they can. The ability to not only take notes on Google but also pass in work through the medium is a great aspect of Google. Over fifty million students are using the Google Apps for Education to work together and collaborate on projects (Taylor, 2015). Students are also able to communicate easily and quickly with teachers.

Teachers can use apps like Classroom to communicate with students. Assignments, notes and upcoming dates in the class can be posted to the Classroom site for all students to see. The classroom app will also update the students calendar if they take the time to link their calendar to their login information from the school. Google is also a great way to keep students secure in the classroom.

Google allows administration and teachers to restrict access to certain applications until the school and district deems the students to be ready to use the application. Take mail for example. The administration, teachers and maybe even parents may not feel as though students in 1^st – 3^rd grade are ready or mature enough to use email so they do not allow students access to that application. As the students grow older the restrictions are lessoned so students can email teachers in the district only and then eventually to the point where student can email anyone they would like. At my district this has been a topic of much discussion.

We want students to learn at a young age how to communicate with adults in the district but also know there can be a fine line between appropriate and not appropriate in terms of students being ready for these steps.

SURVEY RESULTS: Summer vacation is everyone’s favorite time of year, except maybe Christmas time! Below are some of the results that stood out to me. Important to mention though is that EVERYONE thinks summer goes by WAY TOO QUICKLY!!!!

Although not many people took the survey it is pretty clear that for most of us summer begins when the students leave school. I have so many friends within my district that I also feel this way about summer. After the kids leave there is definitely a sign of relief. I also think we already knew the second question that I found interesting but it was worth bringing up. As a class we enjoy a certain level of adventurous sides! 

All the other itesm I asked about; activities, what you are looking forward to as well as when you are ready to go back to school are a huge variety of answers! Seems like everyone has their own thoughts about summer vacation and our own personal definitions of relaxtion! Happy Spring Break and here's to 6 more weeks of School! 

Taylor, H. (2015, December 9). Google's Chromebooks make up half of US classroom devices sold. Retrieved from CNBC: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/03/googles-chromebooks-make-up-half-of-us-classroom-devices.html

The Pros and Cons of Social Media

There has always been social media in the world but the forms of social media in the last decade has changed DRASTICALLY! 

          Students have had the opportunity to grow up with the newest social media applications and trends to date. They will forever know more about these apps and trends than the adults that are teaching them in the classroom. This does not mean that social media should be banded from the classroom but there are several major points that need to be considered by both teachers and administrators before social media is banned or allowed into the classroom. There are some major pros to allowing students to use their social media in the classroom but there are also some cons. Below we will look at both and discuss how heavily each should be weighted as well as an overall decision on whether social media should be in the classroom.

Pros:

·         Increasing student collaboration (School is Easy Tutoring, 2014)

·         By using social media student participation could be increased (School is Easy Tutoring, 2014)

·         Resources can be quickly shared for the benefit of students (School is Easy Tutoring, 2014)

·         Social Media can assist in keeping all parties (parents, teachers, and students) all on the same page (School is Easy Tutoring, 2014)

Cons:

·         Students can become distracted by social media and use the applications inappropriately (School is Easy Tutoring, 2014)

·         Having students using social media in the classroom can prevent the students from interacting face-to-face in the classroom (School is Easy Tutoring, 2014)

·         Social Media can be time consuming in the classroom (Hosler, 2013)

·         Bullying could be a very big problem if social media use is not managed tightly (Hosler, 2013)

There are some great pros to using social media in the classroom but it definitely needs to be tightly managed in the classroom. If the media is tight managed then the classroom can be a great environment to teach students how to be safe on social media as well as create some strong conversations in the classroom (School is Easy Tutoring, 2014). These conversations can include not only how to be safe in that environment but also how to communicate successfully in that environment which becomes vitally important when students need to collaborate in their work environment (Hosler, 2013). Students can be actively engaged and working collaboratively in the same environment in the classroom (Hosler, 2013). Students and teachers need to be aware of the dangers that can be brought into the classroom with social media.

As teachers we are responsible for our students. This includes when they are using social media in our classroom. It is very important to discuss with students the expectations we have as teachers when our students are on social media. Students need to understand that when using social media in our classrooms the expectations are that the media is classroom related at all times and that the conversations are professional and courteous.  Students also need to understand what that means and we as teachers need to demonstrate what we mean. Overall the pros of using social media are large as long as the necessary research and preparation is done before implementing the policy and using social media in the classroom.

Hosler, A. (2013, December 28). 6 Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom. Retrieved from teachthought: http://www.teachthought.com/uncategorized/6-pros-cons-social-media-classroom/

School is Easy Tutoring. (2014). 5 Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom. Retrieved from School is Easy Tutoring: https://www.schooliseasy.com/2014/02/social-media-in-the-classroom/

 

Digital Footprint

            We all know the term digital footprint but know exactly what goes into that footprint could surprise you. In doing research into the exact definition of a digital footprint I found some fascinating information in the attached article. The article written by Sarah Perez, talks about the idea of the normal digital footprint that we think of including; our social network profiles, websites, blogs, photos or videos that we upload or share online, as well as newspaper mentions or articles (Perez, 2008). These are the items that I assumed were part of my digital footprint. For me this part of my digital footprint contains 2 social media accounts, a couple of websites, a few blogs, and photos and videos I have uploaded to my social media accounts. I send at least 20 emails a day as well as searching the internet for classes and lessons as well as worksheets or activities to use in class. I would say my footprint is pretty large but according to the article this represents less than half of my digital footprint!

            According to the article the other part of my digital footprint comes from my “digital shadow” (Perez, 2008). Your digital shadow includes all the things we do online that we do not think about what we are doing. This includes surveillance camera footage, bank records, telephone records, credit card purchases, and more (Perez, 2008). When thinking about all this information my digital footprint at least doubled in size. I do quite a bit of shopping online as well as banking online. All my photos, videos and other documents from my phone are backed up to the cloud and that also impacts the size of my footprint. There are so many more things that go into my personal digital footprint that I was not even thinking about. These are major thoughts that need to be considered by digital users of all ages.

            Digital footprint should be a major component to the lessons we teach individuals about digital citizenship. The idea that we are constantly being tracked by our digital usage is a thought process that should be always on our minds. Digital citizenship to me is about teaching individuals to think before they post something online. Individuals also need to be able to critically think about problems and be willing to work with people from all over the world to solve those problems (Hughes, 2006). Individuals need to be taught the skills to be productive digital citizens from an early age (Hughes, 2006). Discussing what it takes to be a global citizen even before individuals become global citizens and even more important global digital citizens will instill in them the idea that the information is important. If from an early age individuals are taught the importance of digital citizenship either through direct instruction or indirect then as the individuals get older and are in school then teaching the students will be more about building upon the foundation to make truly globally aware digital citizens. It is important as we send students out into this globally connected world that our students are aware of not only their digital footprint but also their citizenship.

Hughes, C. (2006). Education for Global Citizenship: A Guide for Schools. United Kingdom: Oxfam.

Perez, S. (2008, March 24). Calculate Your "Digital Footprint" with New Tool from EMC.

Reflection

     For me  technology integration specialist is another teacher in a district. An integrator is not there to make people feel inferior or that technology is an end all but more to help other professionals feel comfortable with the technology to the point where the technology can be integrated in an effective manner. A technology integrator brings new ideas to the table to be discussed. There is no forcing the technology on to teachers. There is no using the technology for no good reason. The integrator assists the teachers in bringing technology into the classroom in the most effective manner without causing anxiety for the teacher or students. It is important that the technology integrator works as a part of the team and not as a dictator. The integration specialist is a team member who can assist in the classroom during technology integration as well. The technology integrator can also assist the teachers in connecting the technology students use outside the classroom with the topics in the classroom. 
      Teachers and students both use technology outside the classroom. Almost all have access to a cellphone, smartphone, laptop, tablet, or some other type of technology. When students are not in school many are texting friends or calling friends. When students come to school we ask them to shut down those technologies and many times to not touch technology at all during school. Many times we as teachers forget that times have changed. By forcing students to not use technology for an extended period of time we are alienating the students from learning at times. Rather than turning off the technology entirely we should be looking at ways of bringing in the technology even if it is not the technology the students are used to using. Teachers on the other hand are using technology throughout the day to take attendance, give presentations, search the internet, prepare for lessons, and many other activities throughout the day. As teachers we are not limited from accessing technology, yet we ask that of our students. It is time to start balancing that out when possible.