![]() Chapter 9 Question: 2. There is a fine line between students’ right to express themselves (freedom of speech) and the requirement that educators must protect all students from inappropriate commentary and invasion of privacy. How will you handle balancing your student’s right to express and the requirement that they behave as good digital citizens when using technology in school? Give examples. Freedom of speech is used to express thoughts and opinions. It is one of the biggest rights people in the United States have thanks to our constitution. However, that one constitutional right is one that can quickly turn a page and cause more controversy on the internet. Chapter 9 talks about the importance of having each school monitor internet safety. I believe that it is the schools responsibly to train their educators on the importance of digital safety on the internet. From there, teachers should be able to carry that training and express proper internet etiquette to students. After learning the do’s and don’ts of the internet, teachers must find a happy medium to allow students the ability to utilize their constitutional right of freedom of speech. For example, in my classroom my students use a digital tool called Flipgrid. This tool is kid friendly and allows a teacher to view videos first before posting them for the whole class to see. That is a way to allow freedom of speech in certain topics while also monitoring proper student behavior. A teacher can also allow for the students to comment on other student videos or utilize a like button to encourage classmates. This is a way to make students feel like they are a part of a big social media platform like Instagram or Facebook. I believe that if we teach proper usage of freedom of speech at a young age, it can help control inappropriate commentary outside of school and especially when collaborating on digital projects with other classmates. Chapter 10 Question: 1.Project ten years into the future. You have now been a classroom teacher for the past 7-8 years. Technology has probably changed significantly between the time you completed your student teaching and now. What options have you considered – and perhaps taken – to stay current in technology? I remember telling my instructional technology professor in undergrad that I wanted to get a master’s in technology. Her first response was “I wouldn’t if I were you. Things are always changing, and it can be hard to keep up with.” Her response made me smile and I assured her that I enjoy a challenge. Four years later and here I am sticking with my words of getting a master’s in technology. I will say that she was right. It has been four years since my student teaching years and a lot has changed. Smartboards in the classroom have gone from chunky looking boards to giant flat looking iPads. Tools such as Flipgrid and Nearpod have been created to incorporate engaging learning. As the years go by, more free apps are created to engage education in a classroom. I believe that when I am 7 to 8 years into my educational career, I will continue to go to professional developments to keep up with the latest tools. My current school district does a great job to incorporate technology trainings every year. Another option I have is to join teacher groups on Facebook where teachers around Mississippi and the nation help one another stay connected with the latest gadgets for the classroom. For example, during the pandemic I learned how to create Bitmoji images that moved while also creating a fun interactive classroom on Google Slides. All of my training came from reading teacher comments on Facebook, reading teacher blogs people posted, and even watching YouTube videos. I have grown up in a generation where change is inevitable. To keep up with those changes, one must first be quick to adapt and two they must find ways to enrich their knowledge through professional developments provided by their school or seek media outlets where people in the community will help.
4 Comments
William Washington
7/25/2021 08:32:38 am
Paulette,
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William Washington
7/25/2021 08:36:38 am
Paulette,
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Teresa Washington
7/25/2021 10:46:30 am
Paulette,
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Steven Winters
7/25/2021 04:25:10 pm
Paulette, I think you got the hardest questions for this post. Thinking about how I would manage internet etiquette, while allowing for freedom of speech, does not seem like a very easy task. Ultimately, I would educate students on how to properly use the internet safely and how to treat others will online and then monitor for misuse. However, the misuse is the part that becomes difficult. Handling students that misuse when expressing themselves would be the biggest challenge. I would say, you would suspend the students use; however, then you would not be able to deliver the lesson plan the same to those students. This is where I would take a page out of text and consults with other educators in the community to learn what works and what does not work and then apply some of those techniques to my class.
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AuthorPaulette Vargas |