What I learned

I learned first and foremost how to use a Mac- or at least that I am capable of learning how to use a Mac. I have always be rather frightened by them, but they just run by a different set of rules so it's only a matter of figuring out a Mac's rules just like I figured out PC's rules. I learned how much work it takes to make a movie and that I do not believe that it how God has wired me. :) I always out an overview of how to use a SmartBoard, which was fascinating.

I would love to use the iMovie in my classroom, but I am concerned about how much time it takes because only a very small part of that would actually be on the course content- the majority would be spent on editing the movie. So, I don't know for sure. I would also love to have a SmartBoard in my classroom and an ELMO, which I've played with a GU and practicum. I will most likely use many of the Web 2.0 applications because they are easy, fast, and more interesting to make and watch than a PowerPoint.

Future of technology

The future of technology is unlimited because technology breeds technology. As people invent more and more complex, powerful, and versatile forms of technology, the horizons of the possible are expanded. Before the invention of the telegraph which prompted the invention of the telephone, no one could have imagined the cellphone. However, as technology advanced, other forms of technology became possible- and that was only one very simple example. Think about the effects of electricity or satellites. Or the wheel.

This impacts me because I need to 1. stay at least somewhat current with the new forms of technology and 2. realize that some forms of technology will be around for a while and some are just a fad. The implications of the second influence the first because I am not going to expend tons of energy trying to stay on top of every new thing when it will fad out of existence shortly anyway. So, I pick and choose and try to discern where ones are worth getting trained in and which are not.

Online Etiquette

Online etiquette is just as important as traditional etiquette because it serves the same purpose. Society has rules for how to communicate goodwill and cooperation through actions rather than words. Etiquette refers to the details of said rules. One could still communicate cooperation and goodwill without following the rule of etiquette, but the message would be received more easily if one observed those rules. Particularly because the risk of miscommunication is high online, following the rules of etiquette because very important because the recipient cannot receive all the other messages of goodwill/cooperation that would typically be sent through body language and other actions.

One rule that I try to follow is to make sure that I communicate with words (either through the way I say them or by outright saying what my emotions/body language is) what they would be able to sense if I was talking with them face-to-face. For example, I'll say, "Oh, yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking! (sarcasm, fyi)" or something so they don't have to guess how to interpret what I was meaning. Also, emoticons are amazing inventions for the same reason, but can be overused. I try to avoid strong language or writing under strong emotion because it can come out the wrong way, or, because I do not see them, I can end up saying something that I don't mean without realizing the impact of my words.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying occurs when someone under 18 is harassed, threatened, tormented, or humiliated by another person under 18 (when an adult is involved, it is no longer cyberbullying) through virtual mediums (cellphones, Internet, etc.). What makes cyberbullying so dangerous is that it can follow the child around and it is typically anonymous. Old-fashioned bullying was done in person which gave the child some power over the situation because they at least knew who was doing it and could avoid (to a point) interactions. However, cyberbullying leaves the children wondering who the perpetrator is and whether it is actually one of the people who pretend to be one of their friends. Also, unless they rid themselves of technological forms of communication, they cannot avoid the bullying because anyone can call or text them or post slanderous or threatening comments online.

Some sites to help educate students are:

http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/

http://www.bullyingcourse.com/

http://www.education.com/special-edition/bullying/cyberbullying/

2.0 Web Project

The ASSURE project - Glog

http://assure.glogster.com/

My Voki

Academic honesty

Dishonesty in any area of life leaves "tracks in the soul." I don't remember where I got that phrase, but I owe its creator a debt because I use that analogy a lot. Just as one wagon after another crossed the United States and wore such deep ruts in the land that the wagons could not have gotten out of the track even if they had wanted to--for sure not without a lot of damage--so sin wears tracks in a human's soul until they cannot escape without a lot of damage or at all. The problem is that the tracks from sin only lead to death so one way or the other, you'll take a lot of damage. Part of the problem is that sin in any area of life stains all the rest of one's life. So, while academic dishonesty doesn't seem like it would be a huge deal, it colors the rest of life and makes it difficult to be honest in any other area.

I would be upfront with my students about the dangers of academic dishonesty from a moral perspective, but also from a practical one. They will learn to be lazy; they will fail whatever they were caught cheating on; they will establish patterns that will have greater and great consequences as life goes on, etc. I will have a zero-tolerance policy, but make it clear that I will do whatever i can to help them either not have to cheat or recover from cheating. And, I will do my best to not place them in compromising situations where they might be tempted to cheat.

Ditigal Citizenship for Teachers

Digital citizenship for teachers is very close to digital citizenship for students except that it tends to be less personal. Teachers generally use the Internet for academic, informational, or professional tasks. They retrieve information for use int he classroom or they post information from the classroom, but rarely do teachers, while in the role of teaching, use the Internet for anything personal. Because of this difference in usage, the teachers' adherence to copyright and fair use laws is much more important. Students do not have to worry about them as much because they are dealing with the ideas of others less than teachers.

As a Christian, because we are called to live above reproach, to have moral integrity in every situation, and to do nothing to cause another person to stumble, my standard is not necessarily higher, but certainly less flexible. Whereas another teacher might be able to fudge a little bit on following copyright/fair use laws or might not check a source as closely for inappropriate material without it affecting their conscious, the Holy Spirit would convict me if I did so. The standard to which I am held does not move regardless of the expectations of culture, so I must be responsibily in my digital citizenship as a teacher.

Digital Citizenship

Digital citizenship for students involves the amount, medium, and type of digital communication by people generally under the age of 18-22. Their interaction with the internet varies in that they are primarily placing personal information on the internet whenever they do put anything on and primarily drawing out academic information when they are searching for something. Because of the intensely personal nature of most of students’ interactions with the internet, they must be aware of the shortcomings and dangers of the internet so they can be sure to protect themselves and leave a positive digital fingerprint.

Ways to protect themselves involve such things as censuring the pictures and information given out on social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. The information they place on the internet is no longer within their control and anyone, even in a private account, can access that information and potentially use it for evil. Also, because anyone can access whatever is posted online, it is imperative that students choose to leave a positive virtual mark that will build people up rather than tear them down, such as cyber-bullying.

http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/

Validity of Internet Source

It is important to check the validity of internet sources because of the nature of the internet. As evidenced by this blog, anyone can post anything they like on any topic anywhere on the internet and no one can stop them. Others might contradict what they said, but if a student is not aware enough or does not look hard enough, then they could stumble on some bizarre sites and take the information found there as gospel. No one can insist that internet authors have good research to back up their statements like an editor or publisher of a book would do, which makes the internet in general much more unreliable in some ways.

A good example, at least in the past, of a semi-valid, but mostly not, source of information has been Wikipedia. Anyone can post anything in Wikipedia and because it is not peer edited, no one may see blaringly obvious errors in the site’s information. However, students could imagine that because it looks official and is an easy source of information, then they can use it without worrying about the validity.

Fair Use and Copyright

The rules of fair use and copyright essentially say that not everyone can use another person’s work at any time for any reason, particularly without permission. There are perimeters within which borrowing or using another person’s work is permissible, namely in education or in a private setting. However, the perimeters rarely extend even close to as far as most people assume. The intellectual property of people is closely protected in the United States for up to a century or more, and according to the rules of fair use and copyright, citing one’s source is not enough. One must also ask for permission from the owners.

These rules ought to have a greater impact on me because I am a Christian! Whether or not they actually do greatly depends on the extent of my knowledge of them and as of this moment, I know very little. That does not negate the fact that I ought to be more of an example to the rest of society when it comes to following the rules, but it does make obedience to the laws of the land more difficult.

Christian Worldview

The Christian worldview of education encompasses more than simply making the students smarter or able to pass a test. Education for Christians is almost geared in such a way that teachers are attempting to either restore some of the Edonic goodness, purity, and wholeness, or looking forward and trying to achieve the heavenly goodness, purity, and wholeness. If any part of education does not fit either of those two goals, then it does not have a part in education or life in general.

Christians have a different culture from which to work. They are not of this world and thus must operate from a completely different standpoint. If whatever activity is occurring is not helping its viewers, planners, or participators to become more Christ-like, then the activity should not continue. Education has more to do with becoming truly human and who we were created to be mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually than it does getting students to pass a test.

Technology in Ed

Technology in education is important because technology is such a massive part of today's world. The "3 R's" are vital for a foundation from which to draw on as people interact, but if the student has no concept of how to work or interact with technology then they will be unable to access most information and communicate with people in the most commonly used mediums. Technology will not go away, barring some catastrophic event, of course. It is here to stay and to refuse to hand students as many tools as possible with which to go forward into the future is to sign a warrant for their slow societal death- in many ways.

On the other hand, technology changes very quickly and catastrophic events are not unforeseen. Thus, to only teach students how to communicate through the newest technologies or how to find information through the newest search engine is to under-prepare students for reality. Reality is that communication occurs more through face-to-face discussions, and reading and writing hardcopy materials than through many of the forms of virtual communication. Students must learn how to interact on a personal level as well as a virtual or they will be crippled socially.

Wordle - Ps. 119

About me

Hello!

I'm the second child in my family, the oldest girl in my family. I used to pray every night for a sister and when I was ten, God gave me a new, little baby sister. She's amazing; one of the dearest girls I know, but when she first arrived I was disgruntled because I had been hoping all along that God would give me a big sister even though I never specified that! He knew best, of course, and I had the privilege of being the big sister to Marisa that I always wanted for myself! I have loved it. I'm from southern CO, born and raised in one of the most beautiful places. I would love to end up in a place very similar, though probably not my hometown, for the rest of my life, but we will see where God takes me.

I am a junior in college studying Secondary English Ed. I would like to get my teaching license because I love teaching, I love teenagers, and I love languages. Also, in the event that I have children someday and decide to homeschool them, I would be able to do so legally regardless of which state I happen to be in because some states have laws about homeschooling without a teaching license.

Thanks for reading!
Jacki

Contrary to Micah's post...

...setting up the blog was not nearly as difficult as setting up the silly Google account! It was so finicky!!