Friday, December 16, 2011

Internet Safety Part 2: Teaching

So, I taught my aunt what I learned about internet safety. It wasn't hard, however I think a lot of what I learned, she already knew. I think that her awareness of the youtube safety videos might be useful as her daughter starts using the internet more though. Also, she and I discussed how awful something are on the web and how scary it is that our kids will be coming across some of it. I feel that one big thing I learned from this assignment is that internet safety is about awareness. If you are aware of what can happen, it's easier to avoid and easier to protect others.

Internet Safety Part 1: Exploration

I viewed/read the following:

http://knowwheretheygo.org/asca/videos/
(the educators - digital reputation video)

http://www.ikeepsafe.org/videos/
(the playing and staying safe online youtube video)

http://v18.lscache1.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/fauxpaw/FP4%20Film%20.mov
(the Faux Paw video)

http://www.diigo.com/bookmark/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.netfamilynews.org%2F%3Fp%3D29924?gname=teaching-with-technology
(cyber-bullying article)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLTj3WBmY1k&feature=related
(video about girl committing suicide after her sext/text went viral)

  1. I feel the most important thing I learned from these readings is that media is playing a huge role in kids' lives, but they don't realize the effects that it can have on their reputation and safety. What may seem to adults to be common sense doesn't occur to the younger generation.
  2. As a future parent and teacher, what I read has encouraged me to teach kids about internet safety explicitly and not assume they know what is safe. Also, I plan on actively monitoring their activities, because although they think they deserve privacy (as did I at that age), nothing is private on the internet. They need to know that.
  3. To be a positive influence on friends and family, I can share what I learn about internet safety. I can blog about good resources and articles and if I see a child acting irresponsibly, I can inform their parents.
  4. I don't feel I fully realized what cyber-bullying was, other than being mean online and that it would reach a wider audience. But cyber-bullying can also affect future employment and future relationships. Also, adolescents may not be as capable at disregarding bullying in any form and become depressed, antisocial, or suicidal. In order to prevent cyber-bullying I can teach kids' how to interact with each other respectfully and foster a unified classroom where everyone feels welcome.
  5. To find sources to teach internet safety, I can search our class Diigo group. I also found the videos posted on ikeepsafe.org helpful. They had links to good you-tube videos for teens to watch.
  6. Some internet safety issues I may encounter as a teacher include cyber-bullying, sexting, sharing of personal information on the internet, students meeting people they met online, pornography, etc. I plan to make sure their are filters on computers, that students are only using websites related to our class when in class, and teaching about cyberbullying and internet safety when introducing our class website to them. Also, as a biology teacher, I would like to work towards including a pornography addiction lesson in the sex education unit, because it has been classified as an addiction by the APA.
  7. I can leverage the power of the internet for students safe benefit by including filters and teaching internet safety.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Participation in Final

I reviewed the videos for Group 6/a couple outsiders.

Here is a link to the comment I made on John B.'s blog:
Pressure and Eggs- comment

For Tori Hanson's blog:
Ecosystems

Elizabeth Anderson's blog"
Crushing Can


Monday, December 12, 2011

Instructional Video

Here is my video on the use of directional terms in biology:



I feel that instructional videos have many uses in the science classroom. They can show things to an entire class that may be too small or too dangerous. For example, in my video, I showed directional terms relating to an insect. It is really hard to show small things to more than a few students at a time. Other uses may be as study materials for students to review concepts, experiments, or demonstrations at home where other materials might not be available, such as to recreate a demonstration.