I can FINALLY Post!! Whoohoo!! I should've asked one of my first grade students to help me. I feel they know more about technology than I do. I'm sure it wouldn't have been too bad but I just got a new computer, new operating system and lots of new user names and passwords to add to the 1,000 that I already have. I have so much to say so I'm just going to ramble on ..... I have a different situation than most of you. My students are about four feet tall, in the first grade and only about six years old. I do use a large amount of technology in the classroom. Smartboard, IPods, IPads, my projector,(not an overheard projector) and I have two computers. I use the smartboard 95% of the time for all my lessons. Our math program, Math Connects is ALL online, with interactive websites, worksheets and lessons. My students benefit from a lot of hands on, short activities. I provide the technology for my students, they don't bring in phones or IPads. So I don't have to worry about managing and keeping an eye on what they're doing. I'm in control of their technology learning and I manage what apps they use and for how long. Most of my class is free or reduced lunch and most do not own a computer or have internet access at home. They do however have parents who own IPhones, so many of my students know how to download apps and games.
I have struggled with keeping up with the technology and making sure that I'm up-to-date with the latest apps and software for my classroom. There is so much out there and as you all are very well aware, there's not enough time in a day to do everything. We have a new Superintendent this year and he created a twitter account for our district. He encourages the staff and parents to follow him and stay connected to what's going on in the district. He creates updates and posts pictures. This has brought up so much discussion during district meetings because there are so many mixed feelings.
I'm unaware what the digital citizenship is for our district but I intend on looking into this. There is nothing written in our Elementary School Handbook. Should there be? Should an elementary school be concerned about digital citizenship? Should this just be for the staff?
My First Post! #1
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9 comments:
Heather- This year our High School has a new principal,who firmly believes in using technology within the classroom. He thinks that every student should be connected- and has proposed giving all students IPADs next year. I also have mixed feelings about this- I think that this would be great reagarding student research, but am concerned about who will be monitoring the use of these IPADs. I think that I would be more confident in allowing students to use technology more often if I knew that our district was prepared to take on all of the challenges that incorporating the "flipped classroom" might bring. I also will be investigating our districts policy- but think it would be a good idea for admin. to create a group of staff (teachers/paras/tutors...) to get their input/respond to their concerns/offer PD- prior to implementation within the classroom.
Heather- I think your questions about Digital Citizenship in the elementary grades are terrific questions. Your classroom sounds like a great way to introduce 1st graders to the wide world of technology and the great thing is like you said, you have all the control. I would argue that teaching digital citizenship should happen in the 1st grade, even kindergarten for that matter. I look at it in the same way that we try to teach citizenship. Even if the message starts small it leads the students down the right road. If 1st graders begin understanding some basics of digital citizenship I think this will establish a lifelong foundation. I think that part of the problem we currently face regarding digital citizenship (or the lack there of with some students) is that this has not been an embedded part of curriculum because much of the technology is so new. As we make digital citizenship a focus of our curriculums I think we will see a lot of positive changes.
Heather-It seems like you already use a lot of technology in your classroom and you are lucky that your district supports the use of technology in the classroom, even providing you with a Smartboard, etc. I think it is awesome that you use it for most of your lessons, and I'm sure the activities increase student engagement. You are right with there being so much you can do. With all the new apps and programs, it is almost overwhelming. Technology is not going to stop advancing, and I feel as educators we now have new and additional responsibilities to learn this new technology and incorporate into our classroom. When do we have time for this?!
I think exposing students to this kind of technology at such a young age is great, however, it also gives me a little bit of anxiety. Does this account for the fact that children are now becoming more dependent on technology? Kids are using technology and the web for everything now. What happened to reading a good old book? I look in many classrooms and see students reading off their Kindles, during SSR. My main concern is that they are not just using the Kindle for reading; they are very likely surfing the net during those 25 minutes of precious reading time.
You are lucky that you can at least monitor what your students are doing, and I agree with Ken that it is never too early to teach children about digital citizenship. If children are too young to understand the responsibilities of using the internet and technology, then they are too young to be using it. Schools should start embedding digital citizenship into the curricula, so that students know and understand the responsibilities, benefits and consequences that come with using technology and the web.
Great points everyone! Heather - you are already doing more in your 1st grade classroom than I think I can do in a year! Looks like I need to come to your class to ask your students how to download an app.
Not sure how you all feel...but I'm too old fashioned about all of this technology. I've been in my school district for 17 years (I was a part-time paraprofessional and working another job as I was finishing my undergrad part time). As I reflect upon how far we all have come, it amazes me how fast things change. Once everyone gets comfortable with the new phone, an even newer one comes out. Once you buy a big screen tv, the following year it is outdated. It amazes me!
I like Nicole's comment on how this could all be overwhelming...and of course...when are we going to have time to learn, get training, implement, and most importantly, reflect on all of this???
One concern I read throughout all the posts is how to monitor the use of any devices in the classroom. One tactic I use when we are in the classroom is to arrange all of the desks facing the walls so that I can sit in the middle of my classroom and see ALL of my student's screens. Not sure if you've tried it yet but just another little thing that might make all of this a little bit easier on us.
Heather, clearly your district allows for the use of technology and I think the fact that you can regulate its use is tremendous... However, the comment that most of the technology lessons are short or quick seems to be bugging me; I feel like THAT is what's wrong with technology. It is reprogramming our children to only handle short and quick inputs. Their attention is best served with quick bits, and small clips, and Twitter feeds, rather than with robust novels and in depth conversations. I think that, as a society, we are moving towards a train wreck that will result in much of what Ray Bradbury wrote about in Fahrenheit 451 (about the attention span and cares of the populace). Heck much of it already HAS come true. How do we continue to manage it, like you are able to do, while still teaching kids how to focus at a young age to pay attention critically and at length?
In terms of Cassie's comment about iPads in all the classrooms, again I am torn. As a teacher of English, I understand the need for students to read new, dynamic texts, as well as the burden this places on a cash-strapped school budget. Buying next textbooks is not fiscally possible. However, with iPads, the cost of books drops precipitously (especially lengthy textbooks), which makes this option quite attractive to me. However, once again, it comes down to the monitoring aspect. There is research that shows (and I DO understand that any of us can find research to point in any direction we want...) that students who read on screens (be it a computer, a phone, a tablet, whatever...) comprehend about a third or more LESS than their peers who read the same text out of a book. The reason is that they are constantly distracted by Facebook and music, and everything else the screen offers that IS NOT RELATED TO THE READING. Are there ways around this? I'm sure.... But again, it begs the question, if the technology is so useful why do we need to go to such great lengths to make sure it isn't being abused?
Ken, I think this is you? I agree, teaching digital citizenship should start as early as possible. It's pretty sad when I see little babies with their parent's Iphone just to keep them quiet. What happen to a pacifier? That gets me to another point, I have a huge Italian family and every Sunday we get together for a large dinner. My twelve year old niece knows that when we have dinner at our house there are no cell phones allowed at the dinner table. There is also no texting allowed when we are all together. We have discussed it and come to the conclusion that it's rude and even though we get together once a week my niece will live without her cell phone for five hours or so. We do depend too much on them.
Nicole, technology is ever changing and I can't keep up either. Two years ago we all received Smartboards, and now they're talking about moving on to something else? As I think to myself, what could be better than a smartboard? ugh! Never ends!
Steve, great comments! I love the idea about arranging all the desks so they face the walls. What a great idea, that's a great way to monitory your class and what the students are looking at and working on.
Hey guys, this is a great thread! I found myself falling into the trap of looking for the "like" button for every comment.
I have many thoughts going through my head, so forgive me if I jump around. Heather, I'm jealous of all the technology you have in your first grade classroom! It's great! I think we have finally implemented ipads in our kindergarten classrooms, however I think it's only one elementary school in our district. I think it's great that students have the opportunity to use all that technology so young because then they are taught how to appropriately use and navigate the devices. The limited times I have used the laptops in my class, my students are very scattered as to "where to research" and "how to research." Just the other day I was looking for a "triangular house" with one of my classes online. So many students said, "Just go to google images!" As much as I knew to do that, I was VERY hesitant because there have been times where there are inappropriate pictures that come up. (Even though it has nothing to do with the search!) So, I ended up not, and just clicking through links that were appropriate to my search. I guess my question/point is, students need to be able to utilize the internet effectively so these "issues" don't even come up. As a teacher, I was hesitant to display the image search, however as a 6th grader, why would I even question what would pop up when my search is for a triangular house?
Also, Heather, I saw your comment about how kids at home need to learn responsibility of the technology. I couldn't agree more. My 2 year old does like to watch her "shows" on our iphones/ipad, but it's limited and monitored. She would rather either play with her toys or read a book with us than navigate through to watch her shows. It does make me anxious to think further down the road when she really can do more with it, however, as a parent, I am and will be on top of her usage of it. Just like you, we have our family dinners and there are no cell phones or anything at the table. (We like conversation and it often gets loud, but I couldn't imagine it any other way.) Here, I guess my point is, usage of these devices need to monitored by parents at home as well. I do believe it should start with parents to teach their children on what is appropriate and what is not appropriate. I do think sometimes schools deal with "internet issues" that are inappropriate for the school to deal with.
My sister-in-law has been using my younger daughter(almost 5)to help identify what her K students might like for apps since her district is piloting K usage. My daughter has apps on my phone that she plays periodically, maybe in the car when she's not singing, looking through a book, or bugging her sister. It definitely has to start at home though, the message, what's ok at certain times, what's not. I remember giving my husband a very evil look and a half hour 'conversation' about technology ethics when we were eating as a family (not in the livig room in front of the tube!) and he was texting his buddy. Parents play such an integral part in ethics and morality. My older daughter can't access everything on her Mac because we've blocked her, and she's actually a responsible kid. Curiosity will win out over time, so providing a realistic balance as to what's out there/accessibility when appropriate should be a priority.
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