ED 491 week 3 -- Article Reviews

Students Leave Technology at Home:
Although this article presents some well-intended information, it does not fully address the 2 main issues hindering educators from utilizing technology to its fullest extent within the classroom. I believe these 2 reasons are 1) not enough student access outside of the school building and 2) not enough staff development teaching "older" teachers the new technology. Students today, although many have access to the internet outside of school, many do not. One can easily say they can use the public library, but how do they get there? Another issue with technology comes from inside the school building as many sites are blocked from access due to the site's content (or supposed content) which can hinder some searches dependent upon the topic. The next issue deals with "older" staff members who are 1) set in their ways or 2) not provided the necessary training to implement this new internet technology or given the support once the training occurs. Simply having a technology person within the building is not enough. Staff members need to be re-inforced in how they can utilize these internet ideas successfully for all students to benefit.

Teachers Use YouTube in Classroom:
YouTube has it's place, and it's not in the classroom. I feel YouTube is for funny creative videos, self-expression, or personal enjoyment. However, sites like it, such as SchoolTube or TeacherTube when used correctly, do have their place within the classroom. Teachers need to stay up to date on the latest technology and use the things that interest the kids. If these sites are checking for accuracy with content posted, then teachers should not have to do much more "extra" work in preparation for the classroom activities that will use these sites. Since most streaming video is blocked in schools, it is difficult to access these sites in school even if they are appropriate or have adequate content accuracy. I feel YouTube should be blocked from schools, but TeacherTube or SchoolTube are valuable resources for educators to view what other teachers are doing and may help in relaying important information to students.

$50 Computer Tested in Schools:
The teachermate handheld computer is a great idea for encouraging and inspiring younger students to learn. Current programs include English and Math with Spanish translation and additional support. This is a great idea, but my problem lies with it only covering English and Math. I'm all for the personal computer for every student, and only $50 is a great cost, but does it expand and grow with the child? Is it something that can cover higher content knowledge? Is it only usable for first graders? Can the programs installed be adapted to particular school curriculum? I understand that it's only a pilot program, but these are the questions that need answering before too many get their hopes up. Great idea, many questions.

Online Speech -- Students v. Teachers:
This is a very touchy subject. Students have the right to post what they feel about situations, much like we are posting in this class. However, when these posts name names, pick on people, or are completely fake, I feel students have gone too far. Long gone are the days of whispering gossip to your friend, now you can post it for the world to see. Students often fail to realize that words have power and their posts can create a disruptive environment within the school building. The other issue I see from this article is students creating "fake" accounts for teachers, administrators, etc. with no concern for that person's reputation or feelings. Students need to realize that what they think is "funny" (as I remember talking about my teachers and such) is not really all that funny. What you share one-on-one is not the same as what you post online, and in today's world, that's just where we are. Gone are the days of secrets between friends -- welcome to the online world of gossip, opinion as fact, and the free speech on the internet debate. I will say I think the punishment for the some of these students is extreme, but there needs to be some sort of consequence for wrong actions. That "punishment" needs to NOT come from the person offended or used in the fake account. It should be handled by a third non-biased party which hopefully could eliminate some of the extreme measures taken by administrators in these situations.