Web Awareness
I was surprised that 65% of youth online in rural Alberta are not being monitored or supervised by an adult! The Internet is a gateway to any and all kinds of information, this finding is definitely concerning. Perhaps this does not account for the parents/guardians that are going through the internet history and tracking what their children are viewing without them knowing? This finding brings awareness into play. Are youth today aware of the importance of privacy on the Internet, what images and information are they sharing? If the majority of teens that participated in this study are not being monitored are they aware of and being taught digital citizenship? As a future educator I think that this is a very important topic. I plan to integrate digital awareness and citizenship in my future classes either through specific projects or class discussions at the beginning of the year and then referencing it throughout the school year.
As a future art teacher, there is the concern for copywriting material, in specific, photographs. It is important that students are aware that just because an image can be copied or downloaded does not mean it can be used for projects. There are free stock photo sites that can be used in accordance with specific guidelines attached to the photos. I am a fan of Stock.XCHNG.
In regards to online gaming, I know that I do not enjoy it due to the sexist remarks that I have experienced as a female. I do not partake in online gaming because of the atmosphere that it hosts and the potential for bullying that it can have.
Dr. Bright and Dr. Dyck make a very valid point in that what educators do with their cell phones or online activity is saying that it is OK for students to do the same. One example was answering phone calls or texts while teaching. If we do not want our students on their cell phones while we are teaching, then we should not be on ours! Having taught art at a High School level, students often used their phones to search for images to inspire or guide their art work. I too like to use imagery to inspire or research different styles of art, so I have permitted cell phone use for research in the classroom during in-class work periods, however, I did not promote being on cell phones when there was a student or teacher presenting material to the class. I think that the preference or use of cell phones, if there is not a school policy, is up to the teacher and if they are modeling behaviours with their cell phone or social networking during class time, then it is very likely that students will observe this and do the same. Having dual or double standards is confusing and is not a positive characteristic to model.
I also appreciated their insights in developmental stages playing a role in what youth should be permitted to access online. Boundaries are very important and are useful throughout one’s life. Teaching and modeling boundaries is very important in face to face situations as well as online situations.
I was surprised that 65% of youth online in rural Alberta are not being monitored or supervised by an adult! The Internet is a gateway to any and all kinds of information, this finding is definitely concerning. Perhaps this does not account for the parents/guardians that are going through the internet history and tracking what their children are viewing without them knowing? This finding brings awareness into play. Are youth today aware of the importance of privacy on the Internet, what images and information are they sharing? If the majority of teens that participated in this study are not being monitored are they aware of and being taught digital citizenship? As a future educator I think that this is a very important topic. I plan to integrate digital awareness and citizenship in my future classes either through specific projects or class discussions at the beginning of the year and then referencing it throughout the school year.
As a future art teacher, there is the concern for copywriting material, in specific, photographs. It is important that students are aware that just because an image can be copied or downloaded does not mean it can be used for projects. There are free stock photo sites that can be used in accordance with specific guidelines attached to the photos. I am a fan of Stock.XCHNG.
In regards to online gaming, I know that I do not enjoy it due to the sexist remarks that I have experienced as a female. I do not partake in online gaming because of the atmosphere that it hosts and the potential for bullying that it can have.
Dr. Bright and Dr. Dyck make a very valid point in that what educators do with their cell phones or online activity is saying that it is OK for students to do the same. One example was answering phone calls or texts while teaching. If we do not want our students on their cell phones while we are teaching, then we should not be on ours! Having taught art at a High School level, students often used their phones to search for images to inspire or guide their art work. I too like to use imagery to inspire or research different styles of art, so I have permitted cell phone use for research in the classroom during in-class work periods, however, I did not promote being on cell phones when there was a student or teacher presenting material to the class. I think that the preference or use of cell phones, if there is not a school policy, is up to the teacher and if they are modeling behaviours with their cell phone or social networking during class time, then it is very likely that students will observe this and do the same. Having dual or double standards is confusing and is not a positive characteristic to model.
I also appreciated their insights in developmental stages playing a role in what youth should be permitted to access online. Boundaries are very important and are useful throughout one’s life. Teaching and modeling boundaries is very important in face to face situations as well as online situations.
| Online Marketing Critical thinking helps to decipher advertising and media tools. Here is a great video introducing the importance of critical thinking and media literacy. Conclusion I think that first and foremost, open communication is the place to start when it comes to web awareness, not talking about things does not mean they are not happening. Setting up boundaries and modeling behaviour when using technology is an important role for educators. |
My Comments
Justin Bechthold: http://justinbechthold.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/web-awareness-digital-citizenship/comment-page-1/#comment-216
Alana's Internet & Education Blog: http://alanasinternetandeducationsite.weebly.com/1/post/2013/07/web-awareness-pt-1.html
Justin Bechthold: http://justinbechthold.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/web-awareness-digital-citizenship/comment-page-1/#comment-216
Alana's Internet & Education Blog: http://alanasinternetandeducationsite.weebly.com/1/post/2013/07/web-awareness-pt-1.html