Casey's Blog: Extending the classroom into the blogosphere

Casey's Blog: Extending the classroom into the blogosphere: "Educators can use blogs so that they can act as an interactive classroom to support students. Using this technology can help to bring ..."

Extending the classroom into the blogosphere

Educators can use blogs so that they can act as an interactive classroom to support students.  Using this technology can help to bring more organization for the students and help to extend the classroom community.  Here are some ways that blogs can enhance the educational setting.

• Classroom Organization: posting homework, posting outlines, posting class documents
• Extension of the classroom community: creating an online classroom community that supports students when the leave the classroom.  This allows for students to obtain help on homework or projects from other students or even the teacher.  Also, using the blog as a forum of discussion can help facilitate more creative thinking.
• Presentation of material: Having students post their homework or even projects allows the students to see their progression as a student.  Students will feel more accomplished when they notice the difference in their work.  
• Motivation: Students who are shy in the classroom might find this online community the perfect place to where they can express themselves.  Plus, students will most likely be interested in this technology because they most likely are already using it for extracurricular activities.  
• The standards that will be address in the blog forum are: 
• NYS Standard 4 (Students will listen, speak, read, and write in English for classroom and social interaction)  Students will request assistance for tasks, describe a hobby, song or book that they are interested in while employing the conventions of social writing. 
• NYS Standard 3 (Students will listen, speak, and write in English for critical analysis and evaluation) Students will assess, compare and evaluate different posts, so that they can provide feedback to other bloggers (classmates).  Develop their own argument for their opinion and provide evidence for their interpretation. 
• NYS Standard 2 (Students will listen, speak, read, and write in English for literary response, enjoyment and expression)  Students will use post other media sources to help help convey and organize their information.  They will also participate in collective activities that promote collaborative thinking. 

As an educator we need to manipulate student material so that it becomes interesting for the students so that they want to be engaged.  Using blogs accomplishes this and familiarizes them will new technology.

Casey's Blog: Internet Safety

Casey's Blog: Internet Safety: "The internet is a great resource for students, and it is necessary for students to feel at ease with new components of the internet. H..."

Internet Safety

The internet is a great resource for students, and it is necessary for students to feel at ease with new components of the internet.  However, with new technology comes unintended outcomes.  This is why internet safety is a cornerstone in productive internet navigation. 

Internet Safety Framework from the educator's point of view:

• Limiting information that students submit.
• Sounds easy enough, but most students do not realize how much information about themselves that they are publishing on the internet.  Students should look at other models online, of what information is appropriate to publish online.  ENCOURAGE students to have a discussion about the dangers of sharing personal information online.  Would they share the same information to a person on the street?
•  Knowing who your online friends are.
• This is not so simple.  Connecting with new people and sharing ideas is a great way to start innovative thinking.  However, making sure this person is not a potential threat is key to establishing trust in this online relationship.  Remember, if the former guideline is followed then you are safe.  However, if someone online asks you about personal information or inappropriate questions, then you should report this person immediately.   
• How to curb negativity online.
• As educators, we have to model good behavior in and outside the classroom.  By modeling a positive environment, we can help our students understand how to engage in constructive criticism.  Let the students take charge.  Assign students to find cases of where students were bullied online.  Then have them discuss the events and how they feel about the both the person being bullied and the person instigating the bullying.  ASK them if they see this happening at their school, and if so how they could put a stop to it.  

Here are some stories to share with students, so that they can be informed about the potential outcomes of their actions in the online environment.  

•  Online bullying
• Internet threats as seen on facebook

Here are some great tips for students who might be encountering online bullying! As found on Connect Safely

• Don't respond
• Don't retaliate
• Save the evidence
• Block the bully
• Reach for help
• Use reporting tools
• Be civil
• Don't become a bully