Runescape. Second Life. Millsberry. Webkins. Skype. MySpace. YouTube. Facebook. Nearly every teen in America is on the Internet every day, socializing with friends and strangers alike, “trying on” identities, and building a virtual profile of themselves–one that many kids insist is a more honest depiction of who they really are than the person they portray at home or in school.
In “Growing Up Online,” FRONTLINE peers inside the world of this cyber-savvy generation through the eyes of teens and their parents, who often find themselves on very opposite sides of a new digital divide. From cyber bullying to instant “Internet fame,” to the specter of online predators, the program investigates the risks, realities and misconceptions of teenage self-expression on the World Wide Web. The program looks at social networking sites which are increasingly a place where kids hash out their conflicts, re-enforce unhealthy or risky behaviors and in some cases the conflicts and behaviors can escalate or become bad. “Growing Up Online” was a thought-provoking program concerning the Internet, education and online culture.
I know that we have a few more years before our children are teens but I am a believer in being well prepared. It is best to become educated and start preparing for it now. (AND NEVER STOP STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF ONLINE SAFETY)
My only concern or gripe with the program is that unfortunately, just as bad things happen offline, there are many horror stories about how the Internet plays a role in horrific events. It is so very sad. Just like real life, there are many good stories to tell as well, but of course most mainstream media doesn’t pick up on it.
The Internet does provide another way for kids to become victims - but it also provides so much more - communities of interest, connections, access to information, and knowledge on a global scale. Our challenge as parents and teachers (and communities) is to pay attention and be present and engaged as much as possible in their lives. I know that is not an “answer” but we certainly will not be able to stop the digital movement so we better get on board and keep up.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Standing Room Only
Room B305 was crammed with Mac users and even a few PC users. There wasn’t an empty seat in the house. All the chairs were taken, people were sitting on the floor in the center isle, standing on the wall and even sitting kris-cross applesauce under the projection screen.
I’ve presented lessons hundreds of times but never to a crowd of that magnitude and I must admit that it felt great. The participants were enthusiastic and ready to learn. Mr. Winton did a formidable job with the step-by-step presentation of creating a welcome page in iWeb and Mr. Anderson did an outstanding job assisting with the audience members with their questions. After our introductions and the step-by-step guide of creating the welcome page I helped the participants delve deeper into iWeb. I briefly introduced podcasting, blogging, and incorporating movies. I also showed examples of several of our teacher pages (Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Ortiz, & Mrs. Davis thank you:-). All this was done while the participants worked on their sites and received assistance from Mr. Anderson, Mr. Winton, & me. We wrapped up with a question and answer session that was not only informational it was also fascinating.
Several participants ended the session by telling us that we were the best session they’d attended!
After our presentation we returned to the hotel and relaxed before going to dinner. We went to dinner at Jalapeño Charlie’s. It was excellent. The waiter suggested two great entree’s. David ordered Molcajete and I ordered Huasteca a la Charle’s. For dessert we shared an order of flan. Superb is the word. Malcajete is a combination of carrorts, celery, & your choice of meat in an oven heated lava rock filled with bubbling Ranchero sauce. Huasteca a la Charle’s includes your choice of meat with sauteed onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and Chipolte cream sauce, topped with Chilhuahua cheese and baked to golden brown.
Tomorrow is our last day. I look forward to tomorrows sessions.
I’ve presented lessons hundreds of times but never to a crowd of that magnitude and I must admit that it felt great. The participants were enthusiastic and ready to learn. Mr. Winton did a formidable job with the step-by-step presentation of creating a welcome page in iWeb and Mr. Anderson did an outstanding job assisting with the audience members with their questions. After our introductions and the step-by-step guide of creating the welcome page I helped the participants delve deeper into iWeb. I briefly introduced podcasting, blogging, and incorporating movies. I also showed examples of several of our teacher pages (Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Ortiz, & Mrs. Davis thank you:-). All this was done while the participants worked on their sites and received assistance from Mr. Anderson, Mr. Winton, & me. We wrapped up with a question and answer session that was not only informational it was also fascinating.
Several participants ended the session by telling us that we were the best session they’d attended!
After our presentation we returned to the hotel and relaxed before going to dinner. We went to dinner at Jalapeño Charlie’s. It was excellent. The waiter suggested two great entree’s. David ordered Molcajete and I ordered Huasteca a la Charle’s. For dessert we shared an order of flan. Superb is the word. Malcajete is a combination of carrorts, celery, & your choice of meat in an oven heated lava rock filled with bubbling Ranchero sauce. Huasteca a la Charle’s includes your choice of meat with sauteed onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and Chipolte cream sauce, topped with Chilhuahua cheese and baked to golden brown.
Tomorrow is our last day. I look forward to tomorrows sessions.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Read, Write, Web
If you have been following my blog on NECC 2007 then you remember me stating that I defiantly needed to find a topic or two and only focus on those topics. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to get anything out of the conference because there are so many options. Well, I decided to focus on Web 2.0 and technology integration (especially on the lower elementary level).
Today’s Sessions
Concurrent Session 1: A Computer on Every Desk? Now What?
Concurrent Session 2: Hi Tech Kids
Concurrent Session 3: Cool Tools: Incorporating Web 2.0 Concurrent Session 4: Use Your Noodle - Learn Moodle!
Session 1: A Computer on Every Desk was presented by James (Jim) Gates. This was very informative because it combined both Web 2.0 and integration. He walked us through the steps that the PA governor is using to incorporate laptop programs successfully into all classrooms. I use the word all loosely because districts have the option to “buy” into the concept. Only a few district have chosen not to. He also introduced a few interesting Web 2.0 tools that they are using. (docs.google.com, moodle.com, elgg.net,)
Session 2: Hi Tech Kids: Integrating Technology in the Elementary Classroom was presented by Danielle Kalus. This session was a “model the lesson” session and I got to participate as a student and not just sit in the audience. It will be air on Georgia’s public television station so that teachers can see examples of 21st century best practices in the classroom. I am really excited about that. The participants explored self-directed learning centers incorporating technology into the Language Arts classroom. Participants engaged in an interactive discussion on how the technology was effectively incorporated to meet the standards. We also bounced ideas around with other professionals on how to successfully incorporate technology into any educational learning environment. I truly enjoyed this session and I am glad I was able to be a participant and not just an audience member.
Session 3: Cool Tools: Incorporating Web 2.0 in the Classroom was presented by Jennifer Ams. This session was lively and fun! It was a BYOL (bring your own laptop) and the presenter made every second interesting. She introduced several Web 2.0 tools and allowed the group to brain storm ways to use them in the classroom.
Session 4: Use Your Noodle - Learn presented by Michelle Moore. Moodle is a free course/learning management system. It is one of the most widely used open source materials used by educational institutions. You might wonder what “open source” is. Well, it is an application that is free and editable. Open source applications also allow the users to give to the community and receive from the community. It makes your “network” enormous.
Today was great and I was introduced to a wealth of new information. Tomorrow I present along with Mr. Winton & Mr. Anderson. Check back to see how that goes.
Today’s Sessions
Concurrent Session 1: A Computer on Every Desk? Now What?
Concurrent Session 2: Hi Tech Kids
Concurrent Session 3: Cool Tools: Incorporating Web 2.0 Concurrent Session 4: Use Your Noodle - Learn Moodle!
Session 1: A Computer on Every Desk was presented by James (Jim) Gates. This was very informative because it combined both Web 2.0 and integration. He walked us through the steps that the PA governor is using to incorporate laptop programs successfully into all classrooms. I use the word all loosely because districts have the option to “buy” into the concept. Only a few district have chosen not to. He also introduced a few interesting Web 2.0 tools that they are using. (docs.google.com, moodle.com, elgg.net,)
Session 2: Hi Tech Kids: Integrating Technology in the Elementary Classroom was presented by Danielle Kalus. This session was a “model the lesson” session and I got to participate as a student and not just sit in the audience. It will be air on Georgia’s public television station so that teachers can see examples of 21st century best practices in the classroom. I am really excited about that. The participants explored self-directed learning centers incorporating technology into the Language Arts classroom. Participants engaged in an interactive discussion on how the technology was effectively incorporated to meet the standards. We also bounced ideas around with other professionals on how to successfully incorporate technology into any educational learning environment. I truly enjoyed this session and I am glad I was able to be a participant and not just an audience member.
Session 3: Cool Tools: Incorporating Web 2.0 in the Classroom was presented by Jennifer Ams. This session was lively and fun! It was a BYOL (bring your own laptop) and the presenter made every second interesting. She introduced several Web 2.0 tools and allowed the group to brain storm ways to use them in the classroom.
Session 4: Use Your Noodle - Learn presented by Michelle Moore. Moodle is a free course/learning management system. It is one of the most widely used open source materials used by educational institutions. You might wonder what “open source” is. Well, it is an application that is free and editable. Open source applications also allow the users to give to the community and receive from the community. It makes your “network” enormous.
Today was great and I was introduced to a wealth of new information. Tomorrow I present along with Mr. Winton & Mr. Anderson. Check back to see how that goes.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
An Eventful 24 Hours...
Since I last checked in a lot has taken place! I must begin by sharing how Mr. Winton has total shocked himself in the past 24 hours. He has stepped outside of his comfort zone. First of all, he ate zucchini (which is green...and if you know if that is unheard of) and sushi yesterday at a Japanese restaurant. YES! I said sushi. Can you believe it...Mr. Winton eating sushi. Mrs. Ortiz you are next :-) He also had salmon tonight at the Opening Night Splash at the famous Georgia Aquarium. And believe it or not he has actually enjoyed every new thing he has tried. He also travel to the 38th floor of the hotel. He is deathly afraid of heights but with a little bit of encouragement from Shomari he ventured beyond the safeness of the the seventh floor and came to our room. (When I checked into my room and the clerk told me that I would be staying on the 38th floor Mr. Winton told me that if it had to be him he would be sleeping in the Tahoe!) Once he made the trip to the 38th floor, he was impressed with the view and was glad he came. He didn’t stand much and Shomari almost made him faint when he told him that he could open the window as joke but he made the trip!
Our morning or should I say our afternoon started at a quint little dinner, Metro Dinner for a quick bite to eat before we started our day of adventure. After lunch we received a police escort to the celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in the historical Aurban District. We began our tour at the legendary Ebenezer Church, continued to the Visitor’s Park and Educational Center and ended at Freedom Hall with the tomb of Dr. & Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. The wealth of knowledge and history that is displayed at the King Center can’t be described with words alone. If you are ever in the Atlanta it is a definite must see.
Then we returned to the hotel and took the shuttle to the thrilling New World of Coke! Oh my goodness! We had an exceptional time. The tour begins with a look at historical Coke memorabilia (the largest collection in the world). The colossal collection even features art by Andy Warhol! Then you enter a theater to watch a movie on the “Happy People” (the people inside the Coke machine). After the witty movie, doors under the screen open and you feel as if you are in a scene from Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory or should I say Willy Wonka and the Coke Factory. It is absolutely amazing. We continued on to various theme rooms including a thrilling 4-D theater. Finally we concluding with Taste It! Taste It! is a tasting experience with over 70 different products to sample from around the world. We had Coke products from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and more. My least favorite was a beverage called Beverly and my favorite was Asia and am I not sure what the name was but it was great! It was like watching a kid in a candy store. We didn’t get a chance to visit the Pop Culture Gallery or the World-famous CocaCola® Polar Bear because it was time for us to go to the Georgia Aquarium for the opening reception but if I get a chance I would love to visit again to complete the tour. David hasn’t had a soda in 3 or 4 year so just imagine the fun he had tasting the many taste of CocaCola®.
We ended our night at the Georgia Aquarium with NECC’s 2007 Opening Night Splash! NECC provided a delightful meal (salmon, romaine salad, shrimp grits, corn, and an array of delicious desserts) and a free admission to all of the exhibits. We did manage to see a few of the exhibits but not many because it is difficult to see much of anything with over 4,000 guest in one building even if it is the largest aquarium in the United States. But even with the crowd we had a great time.
This is only day two and I’ve had more fun and learned more than I thought I’d learn the entire trip. I can’t wait to see what the rest of NECC 2007 will bring!
Our morning or should I say our afternoon started at a quint little dinner, Metro Dinner for a quick bite to eat before we started our day of adventure. After lunch we received a police escort to the celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in the historical Aurban District. We began our tour at the legendary Ebenezer Church, continued to the Visitor’s Park and Educational Center and ended at Freedom Hall with the tomb of Dr. & Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. The wealth of knowledge and history that is displayed at the King Center can’t be described with words alone. If you are ever in the Atlanta it is a definite must see.
Then we returned to the hotel and took the shuttle to the thrilling New World of Coke! Oh my goodness! We had an exceptional time. The tour begins with a look at historical Coke memorabilia (the largest collection in the world). The colossal collection even features art by Andy Warhol! Then you enter a theater to watch a movie on the “Happy People” (the people inside the Coke machine). After the witty movie, doors under the screen open and you feel as if you are in a scene from Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory or should I say Willy Wonka and the Coke Factory. It is absolutely amazing. We continued on to various theme rooms including a thrilling 4-D theater. Finally we concluding with Taste It! Taste It! is a tasting experience with over 70 different products to sample from around the world. We had Coke products from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and more. My least favorite was a beverage called Beverly and my favorite was Asia and am I not sure what the name was but it was great! It was like watching a kid in a candy store. We didn’t get a chance to visit the Pop Culture Gallery or the World-famous CocaCola® Polar Bear because it was time for us to go to the Georgia Aquarium for the opening reception but if I get a chance I would love to visit again to complete the tour. David hasn’t had a soda in 3 or 4 year so just imagine the fun he had tasting the many taste of CocaCola®.
We ended our night at the Georgia Aquarium with NECC’s 2007 Opening Night Splash! NECC provided a delightful meal (salmon, romaine salad, shrimp grits, corn, and an array of delicious desserts) and a free admission to all of the exhibits. We did manage to see a few of the exhibits but not many because it is difficult to see much of anything with over 4,000 guest in one building even if it is the largest aquarium in the United States. But even with the crowd we had a great time.
This is only day two and I’ve had more fun and learned more than I thought I’d learn the entire trip. I can’t wait to see what the rest of NECC 2007 will bring!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Inside the Podcaster's Studio with Ted & Robert
I am so excited! Our first session, Inside the Podcaster’s Studio is being taught by Ted Lia, the PodPiper of PodPiper Productions himself and Robert Craven! They are both educational technologist for the Orange County Department of Education in California. It is awesome to put a face and voice with the material.
When we signed up for this session our goal was to find a session that would help us improve the quality of sound and pictures in our podcast. I think we hit the jackpot! We’ve not only covered those issues we are also able to use the equipment that they suggest for us during today’s session.
Some suggestions & tips from Ted & Robert:
The Process: 1. Planning 2. Production 3. Post Production 4. Publish - Planning should take the most time. The better you plan the better your podcast will be.
Podcast Host: 1. Liberated Syndication 2. podOmatic 3. SwitchPod
Liberated Syndication is $5 a month but you have unlimited bandwidth.
Podcast Directories: 1. iTunes 2. Podcast Alley 3. Pocast Pickle 4. Yahoo! Podcast - iTune will probably get your pocast the most traffic.
Tips & Tricks: 1. Record in the green, not in the red! In short make sure you aren’t too loud. 2. Control the environment. This can be difficult in the classroom but it is essential. 3. Develop rubrics & exceptions so students work within parameters. 5. Define roles so students collaborate.
I am eager to return to The Discovery School and share the exciting new things that I’ve learned today.
When we signed up for this session our goal was to find a session that would help us improve the quality of sound and pictures in our podcast. I think we hit the jackpot! We’ve not only covered those issues we are also able to use the equipment that they suggest for us during today’s session.
Some suggestions & tips from Ted & Robert:
The Process: 1. Planning 2. Production 3. Post Production 4. Publish - Planning should take the most time. The better you plan the better your podcast will be.
Podcast Host: 1. Liberated Syndication 2. podOmatic 3. SwitchPod
Liberated Syndication is $5 a month but you have unlimited bandwidth.
Podcast Directories: 1. iTunes 2. Podcast Alley 3. Pocast Pickle 4. Yahoo! Podcast - iTune will probably get your pocast the most traffic.
Tips & Tricks: 1. Record in the green, not in the red! In short make sure you aren’t too loud. 2. Control the environment. This can be difficult in the classroom but it is essential. 3. Develop rubrics & exceptions so students work within parameters. 5. Define roles so students collaborate.
I am eager to return to The Discovery School and share the exciting new things that I’ve learned today.
Friday, June 22, 2007
NECC, Here we come!
David and I (and Shomari, my husband) left for ATL around 4PM today and arrived at 7:00PM! The trip was really nice. We missed rush hour in Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, and Atlanta. We talk, laughed, and planned (more talking than planning). The hotel is gorgeous and the staff is friendly and helpful. After a swift check in we freshened up and grabbed a late dinner. David had spicy chicken paste and I had the cedar plank salmon. Our first meal was very tasty. If our first night is any indication of how wonderful our experience will be, I think we are in for a wonderful treat. Check back soon to read about our first day.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
A Game Plan for NECC
Today I was looking through the extensive options that are being offered at NECC and became overwhelmed. As I searched with the program planner and found a boundless number of workshops that were of interest to me, I realized quickly that I would never be able to attend every thing that caught my eye and that I needed to decide what topic I was most interested in learning more about.
There are so many “hot topics” right now! I want to learn more about digital storytelling, Web 2.0, making better podcast, technology integration strategies, and I could go on forever. So how do I decide which workshops to put on my list of MUST GO!
Hopefully I can make some decisions soon and map a game plan for conference. Check back often to read about the topics that make the list and what I learn during my first NECC.
There are so many “hot topics” right now! I want to learn more about digital storytelling, Web 2.0, making better podcast, technology integration strategies, and I could go on forever. So how do I decide which workshops to put on my list of MUST GO!
Hopefully I can make some decisions soon and map a game plan for conference. Check back often to read about the topics that make the list and what I learn during my first NECC.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)