Edu 422 Journal entry #6

Edu422 Journal #6 The Threat of Security
By LeAnne K. Robinson, Abbie Brown and Tim Green
Learning and Leading with Technology

Teachers are being monitored on their use of their computers. Fear of breaching copyright laws had placed many restrictions on teacher’s use of technology. This new concern over security is fostering “fear” in many teachers, and turning them away from intergrading technology in their classroom. By establishing many roadblocks, teachers abandon the use of technology, even though studies indicate that technology in PK-12 classrooms develop more opportunities for learning environments. The increased use of security and monitoring software is having a negative effect on students and educators.

1.Do you feel that e-mail use should be monitored and restricted from staff use?
I feel that the same rules that apply to phone usage should also apply to e-mail. A teacher is at school many more hours than are required. They should be able to use the internet to check on personal things while they are there. They should be able to check on a sick child at home without feeling like they are breaking rules. Regulating e-mail usage is an infringement on staffs personal connections with the outside world and I feel it is inappropriate to monitor a professional.

2.Do you feel that all these security measures will defer you from using technology in your classroom?
I hope that whatever school I end up teaching in realizes the value of technology use in the classroom, and its importance in creating learning. Students benefit from the exposure to technology and teachers are able to access cutting edge information that can then be applied to whatever subject they are addressing that day. We want our students to be knowledgeable and exposed to the latest advances in every field. Only through the use of computers are we able to access this information in a timely manner. We must find ways to incorporate technology, and also satisfy security measures

Edu 422 Journal entry #5

Edutoia.org
Media Smarts:From consumers to Critics and Creators
Journal entry #5 Edu422

A recent study of 8-18 year olds found that students in grades 3-12 spend an average of six hours, 21 minutes plugged into some type of media each day. If you add in multi-tasking, it changes to about four hours of TV, and forty-nine minutes of video game play. Homework gets less than fifty minutes.

This digital generation is still taught that the written word is the only means of communication worth studying. There are many new companies that disagree with the “old style” of teaching, and believe that by applying literacy skills to media and technology it empowers students be both critical thinkers and creative producers using images, language and sound.

Teachers must use the students interests to aid in the teaching of media literacy concepts and production skills. It’s believed that students perform better in their core-curriculum subjects as well as improve in all areas, when exposed to media literacy.

1. Do you agree with George Lucas that it’s time to change “English” class into “Communication” class, where students learn the grammatical rules of graphic arts, film and music along with English grammar?
I agree that with the increased technology in all areas, including film and music, it would be advantageous to address communication in all areas. The problem would be coordinating all this together, and fitting it into the typical school day.

2. Do you think packages like “Flipping the Script: Critical Thinking in
a Hip-Hop World” offered by Just Think would be a useful teaching
tool for students?
I think it sound like a fun way to teach students. Like the article
says, “ They either love hip-hop or they hate it, but they have
opinions about it, as opposed to some piece of 19th century literature
they get in English class.”