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This page contains an activity for pre-service teachers that introduces relevant issues associated with using web-based resources in K-12 classrooms. Read the full Pew Internet and American Life Project Report linked below to discover their projections about the internet in 2020:
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2008/The-Future-of-the-Internet-III.aspx
Keep these points in mind as you consider the need for K12 internet instruction on literacy, safety, and ethics relating to the internet.
- The mobile device will be the primary connection tool to the internet for most people in the world in 2020.
- The transparency of people and organizations will increase, but that will not necessarily yield more personal integrity, social tolerance, or forgiveness.
- Voice recognition and touch user-interfaces with the internet will be more prevalent and accepted by 2020.
- Those working to enforce intellectual property law and copyright protection will remain in a continuing arms race with the hackers who will find ways to copy and share content without payment.
- The divisions between personal time and work time and between physical and virtual reality will be further erased for everyone who is connected, and the results will be mixed in their impact on basic social relations.
- Next-generation engineering of the network to improve the current internet architecture is more likely than an effort to rebuild the architecture from scratch.
What do these predictions mean for teachers? for students? Focus your response on the first three.
Review the information on the links below and respond to the questions that follow.
CIPA
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cipa.html
What is CIPA?
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CIPA.html
Outline the intent of the CIPA.
When was it passed?
What does it do?
What does it require?
What are the positive and negative implications of this act in regard to educational use of the Internet?
Why would anyone object to the requirements of CIPA for school and public library internet access?
Read: Filtering: What you Need to Know (2001) and Maintaining Intellectual Freedom in a Filtered World (2005)
Answer the following questions using information from the links provided below the questions.
1. What types of filters are there? Who makes the decisions about which filters are used in schools?
2. What are the pros and cons of filtering from the perspective of a secondary classroom teacher?
Content-Control Filter – Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_filter
Internet Filter Software Review
http://www.internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/
Study: Overzealous Filters hinder research
http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/minimizing-classroom-disruptions/articlesmcs/index.cfm?rc=1&i=36606
3. What impact might filtering have on some schools?
4. What questions will you ask about the filtering sofware in your school and/or district?
5. What decisions will you make about using the internet for classroom instruction?
I. Brainstorm a list of things that your group thinks should be included in a school Acceptable Use Policy. Go ahead, get some help from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceptable_use_policy
II. After making your initial list of topics, check out a variety of AUPs and make a list of the topics they address. You may use the links below or you can always Google to find more examples.
Wake County Public School System: Employee Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources
http://www.wcpss.net/policy-files/series/policies/2313-bp.htmlHaddonfield Public Schools
http://www.haddonfield.k12.nj.us/district_info/Instruc_Tech/AUP.htmInformation Age Consultants
http://www.iage.com/aasl.htmlcheck iSafe’s description of AUP content
http://www.isafe.org/Try businesses, but remember that their clients are not the same as yours.
Network Solutions AUP
http://www.networksolutions.com/legal/aup.jsp
III. Prepare a list of the common topics your team finds in the AUPs you explored with brief descriptions of why they should or should not be included. What would the author of Maintaining Intellectual Freedom in a Filtered World have to say about your general findings?
What type of filtering would you hope to have in the school where you work?
What will you ask during an interview with a school administrator when you are seeking employment?
Chicago Public Schools crackdown on Cyber Bullying
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/07/29/chicago-public-schools-crack-down-on-cyber-bullies/
Cyberbullies - A High-Tech Problem: An Overview
http://www.techlearning.com/article/8278
Cyberbullies - A High-Tech Problem: Part I
http://www.techlearning.com/article/8280
Five Steps to Combat Bullying
http://www.techlearning.com/article/8032
Cyber Bullying: Responsibilities and Solutions
http://www.techlearning.com/article/14362
Searching for a Cyberbully Solution?
http://www.eschoolnews.com/e/partners/CyberbullySolution.htm
Reducing bullying and cyber bullying
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/10/06/reducing-bullying-and-cyberbullying/
Teens are sending nude photos via cell phone
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2008/06/06/teens-are-sending-nude-photos-via-cell-phone/
Teen charged with sending nude pics of herself
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=5995084&page=1
Porn charges for "sexting" stir debate
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2009/02/05/porn-charges-for-sexting-stir-debate/
Parents sue school for role in 'sexting' tragedy
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2009/12/10/parents-sue-school-for-role-in-sexting-tragedy/
Deleting Online Predators Act 2006
http://www.techlawjournal.com/cong109/bills/house/hr5319/hr5319ih.asp
Why the DOPA won't delete predatory behavior. . . .
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/ramasastry/20060807.html
What will you tell your students about online safety? What are the short and long-term repercussions of inappropriate online behavior?
Work with your group to outline the dangers associated with online activity and design a strategy for addressing these challenges in your school.
Explain how the expectations of DOPA will or won't support your strategy.
Here are some additional links provided by 8th graders attending Valley Charter School. Six 8th graders working on a project in their technology class on internet safety found these links and suggested that I add them to my page because "These pages have excellent resources that may also be worth adding!"
Thanks to great teachers like Ms. Baranowski and Ms. Charles, more resources to help keep kids safe online are now on this page to help my pre-service teachers, as well as any other visitors, increase their knowledge of web safety. Thank you for your very collaborative approach to sharing important information, kids! I love it when my students go for the extra credit!!
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/
http://www.mobilephonemarketing.us/cell-phone-safety.html
http://www.cyberbullying.us/resources.php
http://www.makeadifferenceforkids.org/
http://www.stillwater.k12.mn.us/schools/junior-high-schools/oak-land-junior-high/parents
http://www.edmondschools.net/cheyenne/MediaCenter/InternetSafety.aspx
http://www.msde.maryland.gov/MSDE/programs/technology/library_media.htm
Scroll back to the Pew Study report and refresh your memory about the future of the Internet
Answer the following questions using information from the links provided below the questions.
1. What is eRATE? What does it provide? What doesn’t it provide?
2. How do schools and libraries get eRATE discounts? What additional requirements are associated with eRATE that effect school internet access?
3. How does eRATE impact the digital divide?
FCC – eRate page
http://www.fcc.gov/learnnet/
California Department of Education eRATE page
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/et/ft/eratemain.asp
eRate gets facelift with wireless pilot, community access
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/09/23/e-rate-gets-facelift-with-wireless-pilot-acommunity-access/
5. Who doesn't have internet access?
One-third of Americans lack high speed internet access
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/one-third-of-americans-lack-high-speed-internet-access/19370474/FCC: 35% of Americans don't have Broadband Internet Access
http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/smart-takes/fcc-35-of-americans-dont-have-broadband-internet-access/4520/Digital Divide – Three Stages
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/digital-divide.htmlThe Digital Divide: Where we are today.
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-divide-where-we-are-today
6. What does the new FCC National Broadband Plan hope to do? How will it impact education?
7. How will the new FCC National Broadband Plan help address equity issues? or will it?
National Broadband Plan focuses on e-Rate, online learning
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/03/16/national-broadband-plan-focuses-on-e-rate-online-learning/American Library Association outlines positions on National Broadband Plan
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/03/18/american-library-association-outlines-positions-on-national-broadband-plan/
Visit the links below and then respond to the four questions.
WebQuests
Understanding and Using WebQuests
http://midgefrazel.net/lrnwebq.html
WebQuest.org
http://webquest.org/index.php
Best WebQuests.com
http://www.bestwebquests.com/
TrackStar
http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/
Under FIND A TRACK - Conduct a keyword search or browse by themes and standards
or subjects and grades.
Virtual Field Trips
http://www.gaillovely.com/VirtualFieldTrips.htm
Google Lit Trips
http://www.googlelittrips.org/
1. What are the pros and cons of using these Web-based activity structures in the classroom?
2. What is a WebQuest? What are the critical attributes of a WebQuest?
3. Describe the challenges and benefits of integrating WebQuests in the classroom.
4. What is a Track (in TrackStar)? What are the critical attributes of a Track?
5. Compare and contrast a WebQuest and a TrackStar structured web activity from the perspective of a future teacher.
6. How might Virtual Field Trips or Google Lit Trips enhance your instruction? engage diverse learners? support the development of 21st Century Skills?
Go to Wikispaces and take a tour: http://www.wikispaces.com/site/privatelabel/k-12
Respond to the following questions:
What is a wiki? Describe the features and functions.
What are the costs for using a wiki?
What mechanisms are inherent in a wiki that ensure student safety when using a wiki in the classroom?
How might a teacher use a wiki with his/her class?
Go to Blogger.com and take a quick tour: https://www.blogger.com/start
Respond to the following questions:
What is a blog? Describe the features and functions.
How is a blog different from a wiki?What are the costs for using a blog?
What mechanisms are inherent in a blog that ensure student safety when using one in the classroom?
How might a teacher use a blog with his/her class?
How might a teacher support web literacy and digital citizenship by using these Web 2.0 tools? What other important skills could be developed through student use of these tools?
Go to Pt. England School's Blog Site: http://www.ptengland.school.nz/
Click on the link to blogs
Select a Team or Class then click on a blog. Read and comment on a student's blog entry. Email the name of the Team and the student's blog to me when you finish. Click here to email Dr. Cunningham.
Re-visit your response to the Pew "Future of the Internet" predictions and consider the impact wikis and blogs might have on students' academic participation with these Web 2.0 tools.