Student Testimonials

Student Letters to Ms. Bell

My Brand/Mantra

 

My Mantra/Brand for addressing digital citizenship is:

Building Character Awareness Respectfully Evolving with technology.

When I was thinking about my brand and mantra for this course I really want to focus it around character development. It is my opinion that building character is the foundation of having a good digital citizen. There were so many topics in this course that made me truly think about how I address digital citizenship with my students and parents at my campus. My mantra has the acronym C.A.R.E which is Building Character Awareness and Respectfully Evolving through technology. We C.A.R.E about Digital Citizenship. The connection is that by focusing on building character development and bringing awareness to the elements of digital citizenship, we can respectfully evolve by being digital citizens through technology usage. Character skills like honesty and integrity needs to be taught so that students can make a connection when learning the elements and how it applies to technology usage.

Week 5 Reflection

During this course I have learned that digital citizenship is according to Ribble (2015) is digital citizenship as “the norms of appropriate, responsible technology use.” After the knowledge that I have gained in this course I believe that digital citizenship means that means that you are establishing specific norms in detail according to the nine the elements of digital citizenship in order to make sure that safe practices are in place while engaging with digital tools. My biggest accomplishment in this course was navigating through the case studies as if I was the Chief Technology officer. It was difficult to make sure that I was making the right decisions based on the research and best practices. It was a very necessary task because it allowed me really put myself in those situations in order to find a solution. While taking this course I found it extremely difficult to balance my home life, working full time and completing as many assignments as we had in week during this course. I lost a lot of sleep and really have to make it up to my kids for my lack of attentiveness these past five weeks. I feel like my best work was the presentation I did on the evolution of music technology. It was fun to see how music has evolved with the devices and the way that we access music. Technology is constantly evolving so it was interesting to see the short time period where things changed drastically. I feel like the knowledge that I have gained during this class helps me to be more detailed when teaching my students about digital citizenship. It makes me want to be more intentional to with the lessons to make sure that I am making practical connections that build character. The most useful thing that I learned in this course is to make sure that I teach my students character development skills so that they have empathy when engaging in social media. I think it’s extremely important to nurture our students into positive interaction while using digital tools and social media. I think it will be useful as a digital leader to make sure that I build a matrix for technology usage and make sure the matrix is composed around all nine elements of digital citizenship. My favorite aspect of this course was the feeling of accomplishment everytime I completed all of my many assignments each week. Although it was rough finding the time to complete all of the assignments it was a great feeling once I was finally able to press the submit button every week. If I could give suggestion to anyone taking this course I would tell them be prepared to work and develop a daily task list of completing the assignments. Its important to have good time management and organization skills in order to not get too overwhelmed.  I think I would change the five page reflection essay. I feel like this since this is a technology class the structure should be more like our other technology classes with voice, choice, and implementing the COVA model. If I could speak to my friends about this course I would tell them to just brace yourself. Its hard and you may get pushed beyond your limits but the information that was learned is invaluable.

Ribble, M. (2015). Digital Citizenship Consulting – Education, Technology Support. Retrieved from http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/

 

 

Week 4 Reflection

Although social media is needed for networking opportunities in todays society, the notion of excessive unsupervised access to social media without properly educating our children is very damaging. I truly believe this is why we have so many issues surrounding cyber-bullying and sexting. I truly believe that giving students early access to social media and other digital platforms without properly educating this is why we have so many issues with cyber-bullying and sexting. It is critical to address acceptable use and digital citizenship at home and at school.  As explained by (Mitchell, Finkelhor, Jones, Wolak, 2011) “Parents and educators play an important role in helping young people understand their consequences of poor decisions in a digital age where favorable, as well as unfavorable, text and images spread exponentially”. This speaks volumes because it proves that parents as well has educators have an obligation to impart in the students rules and boundaries as well as expressing the consequences of violating those rules and boundaries. When clear boundaries and expectations are not put in place you have to deal with digital aggression and negligence. (Willard, 2007) defines digital aggression into eight different forms of cyber-bullying.Those eight forms are flaming, harassment, denigration, impersonation, outing, trickery, exclusion, and cyber-stalking.   I feel as though these forms of digital aggression are exhibited when students are not taught character development strategies and techniques. Students lack strategies to purposely show compassion, kindness, integrity, respect. leadership skills and empathy towards each other. These are all skills that need to be developed before students are prematurely given access to social media and other digital outlets. I have personally observed kids as young as seven or eight years old with access to social media. There are adults that still have not mastered appropriate Internet interaction that encourages, motivates and promotes positivity. This further proves that maturity and intentionally teaching appropriate Internet usage at home and at school is necessary. Kids that young are barely managing to interact together in person in class and at recess. Positive online interaction is something that needs to be nurtured and constantly monitored and reinforced. Appropriate social media usage falls into the category of social skills since it is the most common form of communication in this digital age. For this reason, awareness is needed so that parents and educators are equipped with the tools that they need in order to properly educate their children and students. Some educators and parents don’t really understand the severity of the cyberbullying and sexting that is occurring. Some parents aren’t into social media themselves so have no clue of the issues that occur surrounding the problems with cyberbullying. Same goes for educators, some are not really into social media so unless they have issues that arise in their classroom on their campus or classroom they are oblivious to the unethical online communication amongst their students. Through more character development skills, you can integrate the topic of digital citizenship and how to apply these skills while on social media outlets. These factors contribute to positive interaction through social media. Just like you have to teach students to read, write and to reach academic goals it is equally important to teach social skills.

 

References:

Mitchell, K. J., Finkelhor, D., Jones, L. M., & Wolak, J. (2012). Prevalence and characteristics of youth sexting: A national study.Pedatrics, 129, 13-20. Mitchell_Prevalence_&_Characteristics_of_Youth_Sexting_2012.pdf

Week 3 Reflection

This week was about learning about the different aspects of copyright laws. This is a topic that I was previously unfamiliar with so there was a lot of information that I read and learned this week that was new to me. There was one particular topic that stood out to me this week. The differences and similarities between plagiarism and copy right infringement are striking and they deserve thorough examination in each situation in order to determine which term applies.

One of the things that really stood out to me about this topic this week was during the case studies determining whether the resources being used were violating any laws and be considered copyright infringement. These scenarios are things that we as teachers encounter on an everyday bases. However, I will be the first to admit that I use resources without ever thinking about whether or not I am violating any laws with the usage. There are times when colleagues have made a copy of a consumable because there weren’t enough or recorded something from TV to show in class. We think we are just doing what we have to do for our students. Never do we consider the fact that we are breaking the law and violating the work of the creator. Reading the copyright laws have definitely brought awareness to consider the creator and appropriately citing and giving credit before using someone else’s work.

I think that It is great that laws are in place to protect and help teachers to be able to use other’s creative work without violating copyright laws. Fair use and the TEACH act are the saving grace for educators to be able to use the work of others for educational purposes. The evidence at www.copyright.gov shows that. “The TEACH Act facilitates and enables the performance and display of copyrighted materials for distance education by accredited, non-profit educational institutions (and some government entities) that meet the TEACH Act’s qualifying requirements. Its primary purpose is to balance the needs of distance learners and educators with the rights of copyright holders.” This is really great with the direction that society is moving in with blended learning becoming a driving force in education. It allows educators and students to digitally upload resources for students to use during the course. This type of protection is needed for educators to not be so restricted while using various resources for educational purposes. It was refreshing for me to see the information regarding fair use and teach act. After reading so much information about what you can’t do and what is copyrighted it can be very intimidating for an educator and take away from creative ways to engage our students in the classroom. The information given about Fair Use and the TEACH act gives educators hope and the freedom to still teach with creativity while using the creative works of others for a great cause. I was able to reflect on my own practices as an educator to make sure that I am appropriately using my resources and giving credit when credit is due to the original creators of the work.

References

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.copyright.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CR-Teach-Act.pdf

Week 2 Resources

The  Evolution of Music Technology Resources

I chose this topic because the changes the devices were very drastic over the years. This first article was very informative for me while researching the topic of the evolution of Music Technology. Music technology has changed so much so it was very interesting to see the reasoning behind some of the changes in the devices and the need for improvements throughout the years. Check out this article and video to give you more insight on Music Technology changes throughout the  years.

http://quantonemusic.com/2016/04/26/the-evolution-of-music-technology/

The Evolution of Music Technology. (2016, April 16). Retrieved from http://quantonemusic.com/2016/04/26/the-evolution-of-music-technology/

 

Week Two Reflection

I have honestly never realized there is so many different aspects to digital citizenship. I have been learning about several topics  that I had never even heard of before. There were two major topics that really stood out to me while reading the course resources on this week. One of the topics being Net Neutrality and the other being Digital Footprints and Tattoos. These two topics stood out to me for very different reasons.

When I really considered how it could affect our society if Net Neutrality was reversed it really made me ponder how companies are all about money. I am so glad that this system is put  in place because it keeps Internet companies from taking advantage of people and overcharging for using certain companies that require Internet access. According to (Adam, 2014) Internet Service Providers would charge high bandwidth for companies like Netflix. Comcast argued that streaming Netflix is a huge traffic burden. Can you imagine how they feel about some the commonly used educational websites and vendors. I know one in particular is Achieve 3000. Achieve 3000 is a reading program that is used in several school districts all over the country. Just because it is useful and popular doesn’t mean that consumers should have to pay more for the Internet access to the resources. That just doesn’t seem ethical to me.  If reversal becomes a topic of conversation I will make sure that if needed, I become an advocate for Net Neutrality. If this for some reason was to get reversed our students could really suffer.

The other topic that really stood out to me this week was the digital footprints and tattoos. I think that it is very important to teach our students these days that very much like tattoos your presence on these digital platforms can very much become permanent. You have the power to decide whether that tattoo is one that is negative, embarrassing or one that you may regret in 5-10 years. You also have the power to choose whether or not that tattoo is one that has meaning, inspiration, has a powerful message behind it. Our students are not being given this knowledge soon enough before they are given access to various digital platforms. It should be mandatory to take a serious class on the importance of those digital footprints before students or adults are given access to digital platforms such as social media. We are in times where so many people are trying to make their presence known on social media by any means necessary. I don’t think that they consider the consequences or the damage that is done when you search yourself one, five or ten years from now and you see that degrading comment, picture, post or video. It is our job as educators to shine a light on the positive impacts of your digital presence. We need to make sure that students learn effective networking techniques and appropriate self marketing techniques. I also feel as though more people in leadership or influential roles like celebrities should also model this so that students are not always seeing the negative effects of digital platforms. I have personally made a conscience effort to make sure that there is no negativity or anything potentially damaging on my digital footprints.

As I proceed with the students that I impact, it has become my mission to make sure that I effectively teach the importance of making a positive digital footprint or tattoo.

Adam. (2014, May 17). An Introduction to Net Neutrality: What It Is, What It Means for You, and What You Can Do About It. Retrieved from http://www.marshalldata.com/2014/05/an-introduction-to-net-neutrality-what-it-is-what-it-means-for-you-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/

Digital Citizenship Journal Entry Week 1

This week’s learning consisted of getting a deeper understanding of definition of digital citizenship. I am very familiar with the topic of digital citizenship. However, I have learned a lot of new things about the concept of digital citizenship. I already had some prior knowledge as far as teaching Internetsafety and teaching preventative practices to prevent unethical behavior. What I was not aware of was how your health regarding technology being one of the elements of digital citizenship. I was also not aware that there were nine different elements of digital citizenship. It was very insightful to get a deeper understanding of the elements and exactly what those elements were composed of. I was also unaware that those nine elements were organized into categories. These principles are all important in order make sure that the students are learning, safe and healthy while interacting online. You have to address all aspects in order to make sure that the learning experience is effective. The students need access to the technology but also need guidelines. These guidelines are in place make sure the users are being respectful, they are protected online as well as have a safe online environment at school and at home while using devices. I honestly think that the last category of student access outside of school is the most important. It is easy to address and prevent things from happening during school. However, things that occur outside of school can easily effect the learning environment during school. Addressing and educating on safe practices and etiquette outside of school is extremely important. It was interesting to see how some of the concepts that I was familiar with fit into those categories and principles. What stood out to me the most was Curran’s (2012) collaborative digital citizenship project. According to (Curran, 2012) an iCitizen is aware, empathetic, and socially responsible; they believe in social justice and model socially responsibility both face–to-face and virtually. I agree with definition because it addresses all of the issues that students face when dealing with bullying or cyber bullying. It brings awareness to students who may not even have the knowledge to interpret their actions as those that go against this definition. It gives a descriptive definition of how students ethical students should be while on line or at school or at home.  One of the implications that stands out the most to me is Learning is Social. Social Media must be a part of the K-12 curriculum. I feel this one is extremely important because students only see the social aspect of social networking. They don’t truly understand the network and learning aspect. I feel that a lot of cyber bullying and negativity stems from students not truly understanding how to effectively use social media. If it is taught how to use as a learning and networking tool at school, then those skills will transfer over into their social lives outside of school. I think about when Facebook was first created. It was used as a tool for college students to be about to network and communicate with other college students. If taught the correct way, students can begin to truly benefit from learning and collaborating with one another.

References

Curran, M. (2012, June). iCitizen: Are you a socially responsible digital citizen. Paper presented at the International Society for Technology Education Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX. Retrieved from (PDF: icitizen_paper_M_Curran.pdf)

 Ribble, M. (2015). Digital Citizenship Consulting – Education, Technology Support. Retrieved from http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/

Digital Citizenship

If I had the opportunity to present the topic of digital citizenship with specifically addressing the definition to my colleagues I would take the approach of a practical simple definition. I would describe it as rules of effective engagement while utilizing digital tools. There are different aspects when explaining digital citizenship to someone that is unfamiliar with the topic. The main objective is to provide safe norms and practices for students while engaging in digital activities.

 

When addressing the topic of digital citizenship so many things come to mind. It is very important to take preventative steps in addressing appropriate digital citizenship. This includes but is not limited to being responsible when socially interacting online. Making sure that students, faculty and staff know what is considered inappropriate is very important as well as making sure the students understand what behaviors are appropriate for online interaction. It is equally important to provide rules and tools for safe practices. Essentially you should be outlining guidelines to prevent unethical behaviors while using digital tools.

 

References:

 

Curran, M. (2012, June). iCitizen: Are you a socially responsible digital citizen. Paper presented at the International Society for Technology Education Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX. Retrieved from (PDF: icitizen_paper_M_Curran.pdf)

 

Heick, T. (2018, September 09). Definition Of Digital Citzenship. Retrieved from https://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/the-definition-of-digital-citzenship/

 

 

 

Ribble, M. (2015). Digital Citizenship Consulting – Education, Technology Support. Retrieved from http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/

Media Project Assignment

Conquering ePortfolios