The key reason technology is considered so great is that it has made completing tasks and communication much faster. The key reason technology is considered not so great is that it has made completing tasks and communication much faster. On the one hand, you get things done more efficiently; on the other, everyone expect you to respond instantaneously. This is the microwave age – where everything is done right away.
As educators, we must prepare our students for their future, not ours. We must not only provide our students with the best access and opportunities to learning resources but we must also be a role model. The effects of technology allow people to work virtually and at any time of the day or night. This is an excellent option for the teacher that wants to earn a living teaching online as they can actually teach from anywhere. As a role model to the student we must ensure that they understand that there are other things in life to consider as well. There are responsibilities outside of work and school such as family, friends, church, social activities, etc. Sometimes we need to switch off from technology in order to find a balance. Those who can’t switch off may develop habits that affect their health. A Mayo Clinic article offers some tips on reclaiming the work/life balance which include leaving work at work, taking a break from the computer screen frequently, making sure your poster is not compromised, and seeking professional help if needed. Another way to find this balance is to make a schedule so that there is an equilibrium that includes work, family, and other activities. I try to balance my workday as much as possible. Click the calendar link below to view my daily schedule. Work Cited http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/in-depth/work-life-balance/art-20048134?pg=2 Technology offers extraordinary opportunities for all of society. The internet allows for global investigation which can also bring risks, often paralleling the issues in the real world. Today, society is faced with numerous internet schemes, fraudulent scams, and means of identity theft that threaten our safety and our peace of mind. It is increasingly important as more and more threats are made on our internet environment that we become more concerned with ensuring our digital safety. The average digital citizen can learn to use the network with some degree of safety and security. Although there are numerous threats and vulnerabilities in the digital community such as cyberterrorism and phishing, participants can commit to safeguard their digital safety and security. One of the most important steps we can take is to educate ourselves and concerned individuals about digital safety and security procedures. This includes learning the terms and their definitions so that we can become more familiar with what’s happening in the cyber world. Next, participants should learn the rights and responsibilities of the websites, etc. Finally, teach and support critical thinking as students and others navigate in the digital community.
Click the link below to view sites about internet safety and security: http://public.sitejot.com/jmreid2010.html Work Cited http://www.connectsafely.org/ http://www.ikeepsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/hero-home.jpg http://www.onguardonline.gov/ http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents https://www.staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/for-parents/raising-digital-citizens According to the online resource dictionary.com the word rights is defined as conformity with fact, reason, truth, or some standard or principle. There is a basic set of rights extended to every digital citizen. Digital citizens have the right to privacy, free speech, and usage. Additionally, the meaning of responsibilities is a thing that one is required to do as part of a job, role, or legal obligation. Digital citizens have certain responsibilities that come with using resources such as not violating other participants’ rights. With this in mind, a digital community should have established rights and responsibilities prominently displayed. These rights and responsibilities are the freedoms extended to every student, teacher, parent, or participant. The best way to establish and maintain a flourishing digital learning community where citizens understand, observe, are inclined to willingly support, and ultimately benefit from adhering Digital Rights and Responsibilities is to put useful and appropriate policies in place. Basic digital rights and responsibilities must be addressed, discussed, and understood by all participants. Problems may arise in a digital learning community when issues related to participant rights and responsibilities are not clearly understood. Participants may not make good choices because they do not know their rights and responsibilities. One instance highlights the anger that a member of a digital community had because his picture and profile information was used by a social media website. He made a bad choice because he did not read the guidelines of that site. Another example describes that a participant was being harassed because of a comment made in a discussion – the issue could have been avoided if both participants were at least respectful of each other. These two participants should have known the guidelines for responsible use as well as the consequences for inappropriate behavior. Both incidents happened because each individual was not aware or did not follow the established policies. An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) should be established, monitored, and enforced. The AUP should contain both Federal Regulations and the Internet Safety Policy. These minimal policies in place will help members make good choices as their rights and responsibilities are defined. There should be appropriate links to laws such as the First Amendment as well as other various websites so that members can easily see examples and articles. Once the AUP is established it should be regularly updated based on new legislation. The AUP is a good tool to address the rights and responsibilities of participants in a digital learning community. When an AUP is used properly it can help protect students, educators, and the other stakeholders. To ensure that all participants are aware and agree to the AUP established there should be procedures in place where they have to physically read and agree to the policies. Once the participant read and agree to the AUP they are also stating that they understand the consequences of inappropriate behavior and actions. When the best interest of the digital community is at the forefront of the participants thinking and actions and it is evidenced by their support, then ultimately all will benefit. Work Cited www.dictionary.com This quest examines the code of behavior that a community expects its citizens to follow. Have you ever been in an online course and 2 or more participants get into a real argument – not an academic disagreement but a full blown word fight. What could have been done to prevent this mishap or what could be done to neutralize it? Technology users often see this area as one of the most pressing problems in the digital community. We recognize inappropriate behavior when we see it, but the problem is that people are not taught digital etiquette such as appropriate conduct. Often rules and regulations are created or the technology is simply banned to stop inappropriate use. It is not enough to create rules and policy, we must teach everyone to become responsible participants in our digital communities. An effective digital community must practice basic rules of netiquette such as: Free Speech – Agree to Disagree Freedom from Ridicule Respect Yourself/Respect Others Follow Established Guidelines & Rules What types of barriers might impede students’ opportunities to access digital learning?
In todays technologically advanced society almost everything that we use is accessed by a computer or device or the internet. We order pizza, make doctors appointments, and take online courses using technology. This is a technology based society. It is incomprehensible that some people would not have access to digital learning, but they do. Barriers that may impeded students’ opportunities to access digital learning include: (a) not having appropriate devices to interface with digital learning; (b) students’ not having proper training; and (c) not being located in an area where digital learning is easily accessible (see http://stopthecap.com/2012/02/01/big-telecom-to-georgia-your-improved-community-broadband-bothers-us/). What might we do to eliminate such barriers? These barriers can be eliminated by allowing students to use/borrow the equipment they need. Cost effective ideas should be implemented. For example, the equipment could be included with their tuition fees or obtained through a grant. In order to overcome the training issue, students could be required to take prerequisite course(s) that would teach/train them to effectively benefit from digital learning. If they are located in area with no/little digital access, they could be told designated areas where they could utilize the equipment and access to digital learning – like a classroom or public library. What were the three most useful tools or resources resulting from the web walkabout?
During my web walkabout I found many resources that could be utilized to enhance the learning experience in a digital learning community. The three most useful tools I found were: Screencast-o-matic – Is a recording resource that lets you record your full screen or only a selected portion of it while speaking through your computer's microphone. While recording, it highlights your cursor and clicks to help your audience follow your demonstration. The overall results looks good and can be uploaded easily into youtube and shared. Snagit - Is a screenshot program that captures video display and audio output. It replaces the native print screen function with additional features. Newer versions allow batch capture of embedded items such as links, pictures, and multimedia. The user can set parameters and keyboard shortcuts to capture particular types of data. Snagit can also follow links in web pages, capturing the specified data from the linked pages. It is used to save time, communicate better, and create content. Goanimate – Is a video recording resource that utilizes animation to create videos. It allows users to develop both narrative videos, in which characters speak with lip-sync and move around, and video presentations, in which a voice-over narrator speaks over images and props, which may also move around. How can students be taught to safely collect tools and resources that can help them maximize their learning? Students can be taught to collect tools and resources that are safe by the example of the teacher. The teacher should use research based resources and require that the student does as well. There is so much on the internet but students should be instructed to visit sites with domain suffixes of .edu, .org. and .gov as they are most likely to have research based material. What policies or procedures might need to be in place to make this possible? The student and teacher must always be aware of harmful content that may have a virus and explicit websites that may be inappropriate in an educational setting. The student should be cautioned to never give out personal information. Most educational sites allow free memberships through your established email account or social networking site. Click on the link below to go to my response about the 'Ideal Digital Learning Community'. I created a video slide show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpG1c6ptcsU What is the DLC like?
Digital learning communities are websites that allow access and freedom of education by potential members that wants to learn. I joined the DLC edweb.net and livebinders.com. I joined these two DLC’s because they allow me to converse with other educators about resources to use as well as providing timely blog posts on various subject matters that are of interest to me professionally. They were both very user friendly and engaging with resources and aesthetically. I liked edweb.net DLC because it provides webinars on many different subjects that I will utilize in the future as an online teacher. I am also a member of Youtube, Twitter, and LinkedIn where I utilize them to gather information about various topics as well as professionally in pursuit of opportunities to serve my community. I enjoy many different DLC’s and will probably join more in the future. The DLC’s that I explored were appealing to me because they all provided resources that I am interested in such as k-12 resources, higher education, and teacher communities. Most all of the DLC’s I researched have a place to ask questions and allows people within the community to respond. They also allow the members to search for resources based on state standards, subject, grade level, interest, etc. What can Digital Citizens do to make the process of joining a DLC more appealing to and easier for students? A digital citizen can make the process of joining a DLC more appealing and easier by making sure it is user friendly and useful to the community that it will serve. It should be easy to use by anyone whether novice or expert user. The DLC must meet the needs of the person seeking to join. It should provide a variety of resources, a place to communicate with others, and a place to share ideas. I believe that having good character traits in a digital learning community are very important because often you have limited interaction with the people that you are teaching. I believe that the most impressive character traits of an exemplary citizen within a digital learning community are honesty, flexibility, and perseverance. Honesty. According to Encarta Dictionary honesty is described as the quality, condition, or characteristic of being fair, truthful, and morally upright. When someone in a digital community is honest – it makes it easier to trust them. This trust is multi-tiered in a digital community because you are often not able to see the person and you have to build trust with others and learn to trust as well. Flexibility. I understand flexibility in a digital community addresses being able to adapt to new or unexpected situations. Sometimes in a digital community circumstances may arise that may have to very unorthodox solutions. The flexibility is needed in order be able to adapt to these unknown situations and get the assignment completed in a timely manner. It includes finding ways to solve problems. Perseverance. In a digital community a person has to be able to be determined and persistent in their actions in order to complete their assignments. There will be difficulties, setbacks, and unforeseen calamities but if they stay the course they will make it. They must be able to think through the problems. |
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