Internet Safety

This course EDRL6004 has prepared the Reading Specialists to integrate the technology into the school's curriculum.We have learned to blog, create photostories, wikis, e - books and do concept mapping, which can assist us to motivate the students, to learn the subject matter.Some of us struggled to grasp concepts but was eagerly assisted by our fellow teachers and tutor.As we practice with the tools, we have become better at using it. Now we are eager to go back to school an introduce the technology to our Members of Staff and our students.When we have accomplish this feat, our students will become enthusiastic about the technology, just as we have grown to love it or moreso.

We have read blogs from other teachers about teens and multitasking technology.We know how we can deal with the problem through educating the students about the dangers of the inability to recall information studied.Of most importance, is Internet Safety.Although there are laws which prohibit students from giving personal information online, it is the responsibility of teachers and parents, to educate the children of potential dangers of surfing the web.They have to be aware of websites that are unsafe.It is necessary that parents and teachers work along with students as they navigate the web.

Dealing with tech savvy kids

It is indeed a task for parents to deal with their children who spend their leisure time online than outdoors.However, they can manage how they use the technology.Parents have to be involved in their children's activities. They must know whether they are doing Home Work or chatting with friends.How do they do that? Computers should be placed in a strategic place in the sitting room. Then their activities can be monitored.Parents can show interest in their Home Work or Research projects and offer help. Our kids can't be left alone.

I believe that they should be educated on the dangers of multitasking technology. They should prioritize what is most important, the research project, the music or the cellphone.Also,it is important that they keep their grades up.

Is it good for our children to multitask technology all day long?

Is this the price of progress? The adults prospered with the advancement in technology and children are making use of them all.Is it alright for them to multitask? Rosen (2010), agrees that it is the responsibility of parents to teach their children how to use the tools sensibly.Also, parents need to instill a sense of balance, so that their homes are not ruled by the technology.Parents can develop ways of affording more family time to counteract this problem.For example,parents should set the standard during this time by switching of their cell phones and the television.

At school,students should be educated on using the technology safely, how to maintain good grades and have a social life.

What do you suggest as alternatives to the problem of multitasking?

Teens use technology to multitask and stay connected

Girls are better at multitasking than boys.

Critics of modern technology are of the belief that teens prefer to stay at home with their computers and video games. However,there are those who believe that technology facilitates greater connectivity among children between the ages 12 - 17 years. Young people use a variety of technologies and media at the same time to achieve a number of different goals.
The most popular form of multitasking is being online and watching television at the same time.

A Media Head Survey revealed that 35%of girls watched television while on the Internet, compared to 32%of the boys. Girls multitask in other ways.They use mobile phones, instant messaging and video phones with greater frequency than boys.

What do you think?

Technology Integration Strategies

This is a topic that should interest ALL Reading Specialists.

Our students are exposed to the technology and we cannot underestimate their ability to use it.The question is: Can we just complain about the lack of facilities at our school?Do we want the technology integration to be an elusive goal? We have to remember the benefits of technology integration and there are ways, to make it easy for us to integrate the technology. It is important for us to use the technology because other important technologies are emerging , such as gaming simulations and streaming media. So we have to keep up!

Hopper & Hendricks, (2008) are of the view that teachers should stop looking for some technology magic and use the technology at hand.Teachers must be aware that although there might be technology problems,they must see it as part of the learning process.(Bitner & Bitner, 2002).

Teachers must use online technologies in the classroom because there are online websites that can engage students attention on subject matter.If teachers use these resources, time is saved on teacher preparation and there are more materials to study.Therefore, the web based tools on Google docs such as wikis and blogs, which allows users to collaborate on shared documents.

Lastly, here I will point out that it is important for teachers to model technology use.The technology must be used sensibly, not routinely. This means that the technology must be used to demonstrate how one can improve their work. When students observe how beneficial the technology can be for their learning, they will be interested.

Can our Students get a Wired Education?

Computers and multimedia are seamlessly woven into the curriculum at technology - rich Mary Scroggs Elementary School. See: http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-digital-divide-scroggs-video

From this video, it is obvious that for technological integration to be successfully implemented in a school system, the following is needed:

1) Space to accomodate the hardware and the software in a class setting.

2) Parental support

3) Technicians to set up and solve daily technical problems

4) Funding to support the programme.

5) Cooperating teachers

6) Time to prepare for the integration process

Since 2002, the school in the video has been teaching with technology. The question is, are we far behind ? Presently, in the school system , it is worthwhile to investigate , to what extent technology is integrated in the curriculum. There are computers at many schools but at some schools they are not in use.

At my school, the Mafeking Government Primary School, there are nineteen (19) computers. I am proud to say that the Principal made arrangements for a Computer Teacher, to visit the school twice a week. All classes are exposed to the computers , once a week.The students are learning basic literacy skills. I see that both boys and girls are eager to go to the lab. I am not sure whether technological integration in the school's curriculum is going to happen soon.Some classes are small.However, the Principal did mention that she would like that every class, get at least one computer but that will not be enough.The students are not happy when they have to share computers at the lab.

I am willing to enlighten my colleagues at school about blogs, concept mapping, e - books and wikis, so that they will be encouraged to use the sites to teach concepts.

Fellow Teachers, I am asking you, To what extent do you see the integration of technology at your school?

Believe me! I will be amazed and happy that it is happening, to a great extent in at least one school.

What is Web 2.0?