The Internet and World Wide Web have taken such a predominant role in today’s schools that I cannot imagine teaching without them. There have been a few times where the network was down in my school so I did not have Internet access. One of the days this happened, I could not even show a PowerPoint I had made because I saved it on a shared drive, which requires the Internet to access it. It was basically like I did not have a computer. These few times I had to resort to the old fashioned book and worksheet lessons because my interactive lessons I had planned were all on the computer. I also can’t imagine researching without the Internet. I think it would be very difficult and time consuming for my students to find all the information they need from books. My students could spend hours reading through material, when they could have just read one page and found what they needed on a website.
Because I think using networks is so beneficial to students, I also think that teachers need to make sure they teach students how to analyze what websites, blogs, etc. are appropriate to use for the type of information they need and those that are at their age level and reading ability. For example, we need to teach them that just because someone wrote something on a blog that doesn’t mean that they should include that information in their report or research. I think an age appropriate way to do this for my students is by researching the author and by using fact vs. opinion skills. I also still conduct searches for my students and then give them a list of websites to choose from at times. Some may say that this is defeating the purpose because they are not learning to search, but I think it is appropriate because when they conduct searches themselves they may find inappropriate material and the majority of the information that is valid is not written at a third grade level. “The Networked Student” demonstrates using college lectures and Google Scholar to find scholarly information. (Drexler, 2008) Although this may work well for high school students, my third graders are not going to be able to read and comprehend the information at that level. By giving them kid-friendly sites that are made by credible authors or organizations, they are still utilizing the Internet, but will not be wasting their time. It is also a good way for me to model how I choose which sites to use, thus teaching by example.
One interesting point that the video and the textbook, Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom, bring up is Web 2.0. I actually had not heard of this term before reading the textbook, but I think almost everyone these days is familiar with what it is. On page 78, the textbook defines Web 2.0 as, “Web sites that allow users to modify Web site content, provide a means for users to share personal information (social networking), and have application software built into the site for visitors to use.” (Gunter, Gunter, & Shelly, 2010) When the World Wide Web first became popular, users mainly just looked at sites and read things. They did not get the opportunity to participate in anything. Now we are actively involved on the Web all the time. I know people who are obsessed with Face Book and Twitter, and I am participating right now by writing this blog.
I think that it is important to teach our students how to participate on the Web, and not just look at it. In elementary school, students are less familiar with Web 2.0. There are a lot of safety issues involved in having kids be able to post and communicate with others on the Internet. Students need to be taught proper netiquette, such as using appropriate language and being polite to others. (Gunter, Gunter, & Shelly, 2010) They also need to be taught safety such as not posting inappropriate pictures or giving out their personal information (address, phone, etc.). Once they know how to be safe, I think it is beneficial if teachers encourage participation on the Web, such as in a class blog, where content and access can be controlled. I read an article called, “HOT Blogging: A Framework for Blogging to Promote Higher Order Thinking” at the end of last school year about ways teachers can use blogging in their classrooms for higher order thinking. (Zawilinski, 2009) I talked to my technology facilitator to see what I would need to do to have a class blog this year to test if a blog can really promote higher level thinking. I still haven’t done it yet, but I plan to in the future. After seeing how networked a high school student can be in Drexler’s video, I now see how important it is for me to start exposing my students to these types of technology and networking now, while they are in elementary school, so that by the time they get to high school, they will know how to utilize all their resources safely and effectively.
I couldn’t agree with you more on this post. In fact a large part of my blog post touched on a lot of the same issues. Especially the issue of teachers and students alike monitoring the websites used for validity, and appropriate content.
ReplyDeleteI do like your idea suggesting that students research the writer of the content. While your kids may not have higher level ability to effectively use such resources as google scholar, I do think it is really important that you use websites and technology in the way you do.
I also think your last point about teaching students that the internet is not a stagnant fixed thing, but rather almost a living, ever evolving collection of participatory learning. I like the idea that you instill in your students that the internet is something they can contribute to. I feel like this approach is a fresh idea that not a lot of educators are using, which puts the internet into perspective for students. That concept helps them understand that not everything on the internet is the letter of the law, while at the same time empowering them to use it as a growing resource.
I feel like your idea to use a blog in your classroom is a good one, even with students as young as yours. Good luck with your implementation of that blog into your classroom. Nice post!
You mentioned in your blog how important the world wide web and internet are in our schools today. When I read that, I thought, that is so true! Even when I am not using it in front of the classroom, there are so many resources for teachers that I don't think I could be the teacher I am with out the internet! When the internet is down at our school, you would think we had lost power because our teachers go crazy! Without internet I cannot find helpful videos, lesson plans, or even send in our lunch count and attendance. It is hard to imagine teaching without the internet.
ReplyDeleteI think one important idea that some people are missing is that we need to teach our students how to "participate on the web." I think sometimes teachers assume that we can just let the students roam as they please, but we need to, as Drexer's video suggests, be facilitators of our students learning and teach the students how to use the internet. We all know there is lots of useful information, but we also know there are many things that are just ideas people have. It is important to teach our students about both, and how to find the right information that they need.
“Teachers need to make sure they teach students how to analyze what websites, blogs, etc. are appropriate to use for the type of information they need” I absolutely agree with this. I feel this is one of the most important skills that we can teach our students; how to know the good from the bad. There is way too much information out there on the web and our students need to learn how to find suitable and safe websites to find their information. By teaching them how to search and read with a keen eye, we can give them a solid foundation to forge out into the technological jungle that has been created around them.
ReplyDelete“By giving them kid-friendly sites that are made by credible authors or organizations” I love that you do this for your students. I wish my daughters’ teachers would have done the same when they were in 3rd grade. I think this is a great and safe way to help kids search online.
Gina M
"I also still conduct searches for my students and then give them a list of websites to choose from at times. Some may say that this is defeating the purpose because they are not learning to search, but I think it is appropriate because when they conduct searches themselves they may find inappropriate material and the majority of the information that is valid is not written at a third grade level."
ReplyDeleteThe ideas of the "curriculum page" or WebQuest are based upon the principles you've described, and I think this is *absolutely* an age-appropriate way to apply Drexler's vision in a third-grade classroom, starting where you are. :-)
It's good to hear that you're exploring the use of blogs in your elementary classroom. I found the article you referenced from The Reading Teacher very informative. I had not heard the term "Mirror Blog" before (a blog that encourages students to write reflections on topics). The article also has advice for getting started with blogs, types of blogs and links to elementary classroom blogs at all grade levels. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that we need to be teaching elementary students to be responsible digital citizens so that by the time they get to middle school, they have a skill set that enables them to focus more on using technology to explore and understand content than on learning the technology. They are quite capable at the youngest ages. We just need to get them started by being the role models they need.
Kim