So, where exactly is the line drawn? What is bullying and what is just plain ole drama? To this pre-service teacher, the difference is quite simple: bullying refers to a threatening or harmful situation, and drama is more focused on rumors and bashing. And as was mentioned in class too, blackmail is another real threat on the internet. My question to whomever reads this... watch the video below and tell me which of the three categories you would put it under, and why. If you are wanting more information about the girl's story, visit here .
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Cyber-bullying vs Cyber-drama vs Blackmail
A big topic of the conversation we had on Tuesday with John Finch was cyber-bullying, and it is a very touchy subject with some people, and for good reason.
So, where exactly is the line drawn? What is bullying and what is just plain ole drama? To this pre-service teacher, the difference is quite simple: bullying refers to a threatening or harmful situation, and drama is more focused on rumors and bashing. And as was mentioned in class too, blackmail is another real threat on the internet. My question to whomever reads this... watch the video below and tell me which of the three categories you would put it under, and why. If you are wanting more information about the girl's story, visit here .
Of course though, everyone will have their own definition and opinion on each, including other teachers, students, administration, judges, parents, etc. When compared to physical, emotional, or verbal bullying, cyber bullying has a much more undefined, rough, and unclear definition. Is it time to have more clear cut laws regarding topics such as these? Is it time to start enforcing them more strictly?? How many more stories have to come out like this before there is a big change???
So, where exactly is the line drawn? What is bullying and what is just plain ole drama? To this pre-service teacher, the difference is quite simple: bullying refers to a threatening or harmful situation, and drama is more focused on rumors and bashing. And as was mentioned in class too, blackmail is another real threat on the internet. My question to whomever reads this... watch the video below and tell me which of the three categories you would put it under, and why. If you are wanting more information about the girl's story, visit here .
Monday, January 28, 2013
Can you hear me now?
Our presenter for this week was Alec Couros and he kept the bar set high for how informational it was. The main thing that I took home at the end of the day, however, was the need to embrace new communication tools as they come available. So now, what does that really mean to me?
This takes me back a few years now. To think these simple tools (telephone, notes, letters) were the basis for communication as I grew up is just crazy. I remember having a "pen pal" in Vancouver that I corresponded with about different skating events we were each participating in and just to stay in touch. The amount of time to send and receive those dang letters was ridiculous, and you never really knew if they were getting to their destination or not. Plus, if it does get lost, are we really going to write it out again? No! Well we could use the phone, but then being young and having my parents paying the phone bill, and the amount of time I would have been on it long distance calling, I could not consciously do that either. So it was waiting for the return letter to come, hoping it would get here sooner than later, even though I knew better.
Now, fast forward fifteen years and I am sitting here today with (seemingly) endless options at my fingertips. I have my cell phone in my pocket (no not a smartphone, I still have a dumbphone), my laptop in front of me, my iPod on my docking station (currently playing a wicked Skrillex playlist FYI), and our fax machine in the office upstairs. Now this list is nothing like some could put together, but I am nothing like the people that would have even more devices. This is a way of life now and we need to be able to use all of the sources of communication that are available to us and to the best of our abilities.
Then the question stands... If we get to use all of these devices in our daily lives, why is it that when we are at school, our students cannot use theirs? If they know how to use them properly and they do not abuse the privilege, get them on their iPods, smart phones, tablets, or whatever else they may have. They are going to be using those for a lot of their lives so they may as well get to be "masters" of them.
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| http://www.activegarage.com/ it-is-the-roc-not-the-roi-stupid |
Now, fast forward fifteen years and I am sitting here today with (seemingly) endless options at my fingertips. I have my cell phone in my pocket (no not a smartphone, I still have a dumbphone), my laptop in front of me, my iPod on my docking station (currently playing a wicked Skrillex playlist FYI), and our fax machine in the office upstairs. Now this list is nothing like some could put together, but I am nothing like the people that would have even more devices. This is a way of life now and we need to be able to use all of the sources of communication that are available to us and to the best of our abilities.
Then the question stands... If we get to use all of these devices in our daily lives, why is it that when we are at school, our students cannot use theirs? If they know how to use them properly and they do not abuse the privilege, get them on their iPods, smart phones, tablets, or whatever else they may have. They are going to be using those for a lot of their lives so they may as well get to be "masters" of them.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Dean Shareski
The Skype session with Dean Shareski on January 15th was very informational and I got many points out of it.
1. Doing is better than telling: This is a concept that has been proven over and over again. The majority of people are able to have a deeper understanding of a topic if they have engaging, hands-on learning activities related to the topic and are given the opportunity to share that information and activity with others, rather than only having an explanation of what they need to know.
2. The focus in today's school remains on reading and writing, the 'most important part'. This thought is why the majority of schools remain in the past and are left behind by the 21st century and all of it's newest technology and resources. Smart phones, ipods, and tablets all fall under the viewing and representing category, and there is an increasing number of students with access to these tools as time goes on, so they must be taught how to use them to their full potential... And the best way to learn is to play!
3. The internet is more than just a place to "look up stuff". Although this was the general thought of people and even schools now, students use it for much more (games, social media, etc). We, as teachers, must make this transition as well to take full advantage of the internet's benefits.
1. Doing is better than telling: This is a concept that has been proven over and over again. The majority of people are able to have a deeper understanding of a topic if they have engaging, hands-on learning activities related to the topic and are given the opportunity to share that information and activity with others, rather than only having an explanation of what they need to know.
2. The focus in today's school remains on reading and writing, the 'most important part'. This thought is why the majority of schools remain in the past and are left behind by the 21st century and all of it's newest technology and resources. Smart phones, ipods, and tablets all fall under the viewing and representing category, and there is an increasing number of students with access to these tools as time goes on, so they must be taught how to use them to their full potential... And the best way to learn is to play!
3. The internet is more than just a place to "look up stuff". Although this was the general thought of people and even schools now, students use it for much more (games, social media, etc). We, as teachers, must make this transition as well to take full advantage of the internet's benefits.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Why use a PLN you ask?
This past Thursday we got the opportunity to have John Evans as a guest speaker. This session was one of, if not the most valuable I have ever been part of in my educational learning. The main topic of the day was Personal Learning Networks (or PLN's for short) so that is what I am going to look at.
The first point is how people need to be more focused on their professional learning rather than their professional development. Learning is a lifelong activity and there is no one in this world that has learned "everything". Development, however, considers there to be an endpoint which is the target for success. If one reaches that target they are "successful". As time progresses though, everything changes from places to find information and resources, to technological advances. There will be a lot of good information to be used, but there will also be a lot of useless information. If a person goes on the journey solo, they have a great deal of filtering to do before finding what they need, and ensuring it is valid. This is where the PLN comes in.
Through a PLN, one can continue to advance their learning with time, but it also cuts down on the amount of work they have to do. Why do it on your own if you can have help? Think smarter, not harder!
The first point is how people need to be more focused on their professional learning rather than their professional development. Learning is a lifelong activity and there is no one in this world that has learned "everything". Development, however, considers there to be an endpoint which is the target for success. If one reaches that target they are "successful". As time progresses though, everything changes from places to find information and resources, to technological advances. There will be a lot of good information to be used, but there will also be a lot of useless information. If a person goes on the journey solo, they have a great deal of filtering to do before finding what they need, and ensuring it is valid. This is where the PLN comes in.
Through a PLN, one can continue to advance their learning with time, but it also cuts down on the amount of work they have to do. Why do it on your own if you can have help? Think smarter, not harder!
So... Why am I doing this?!
Being a second year Education student and pre-service teacher, I have noticed many colleagues around me that are finding new learning resources on the internet, collaborating with people for ideas to use in the classroom, and a steady increase in the number of them starting their own blog... which has lead me here. I always seem to follow the trends, just quite a bit later than most. I quite often used "I'm not a Twit" in conversation before creating my Twitter account, "I'm no pinhead" before starting to use Pinterest, and now that my blog has started, I guess "I don't keep a diary" has to go out the window too.
This blog will be my reflection of guest speakers for our Internet for Educators class, as well as the educational side of my thinking... and maybe more.
This blog will be my reflection of guest speakers for our Internet for Educators class, as well as the educational side of my thinking... and maybe more.
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