Safe practices with Web 2.0

My business admin asked me for help with a presentation on Internet Safety.  I provided this site for him (which also houses a presnetation)

Internet Safety ~ Cyber Bullying ~ Digital Citizenship ~ Nettiquette


Buzz words in educations today. I’ve facilitated many discussions and presentations regarding those topics... ...for students, parents, and recently teachers. The information (as with anything technology) changes often- and quickly! My advice is always:

Know the computer/technology, know your kid(s), know the dangers, know the tips. Know how to Keep Safe.


The topic I‘d like to explore is the legal side. According to the law, what is the role of school personnel in regard to social technologies- specifically using them for personal reasons. There are always rumors: a teacher was fired for posting a picture on FB of herself drinking a beer. Another teacher was placed on suspension for subscribing to a gay/lesbian dating site. A parent sued when a teacher DID report a student for having questionable pictures on their personal cell phone. And the flip side, a parent sued when a teacher DID NOT report a student for having questionable pictures on their personal cell phone. The question on the minds of many educators is: what are my rights? What is expected of me in and out of school? Professionally and personally?


To begin, I consulted the PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association) website and their pages dedicated to Technology & Your Profession. I wanted to learn the current position of the institution that exists to protect me – an educator. Years ago, or dare I say up until a few months ago, it was the position of PSEA to say “don’t do it” in regard to sites like Facebook. However, with the explosion of social networking sites for educational purposes, PSEA seems to have changed their stance. Instead, according to their website, they advise users to 1) Think Before They Post, 2) Know Their Friends, 3) Scrutinize Pictures for Appropriateness, and 4) Protect Privacy. Common sense for the most part. The question remains: who determines appropriate? Is a picture of an educator holding a glass of wine an issue?? Or worse, an educator at a party – outside of school hours, not on school property- in a risqué position…is that a problem? Do educators have rights in their personal life?


I jumped on Google and searched using the following: teacher, technology, rights, school code, school law, and all combinations. I found a great resource of current court cases on the NSBA (National School Boards Association) website. There is a section dedicated to recent cases involving technology. Included:
~a Millersville University Student is removed from a student teaching assignment based on a picture posted of her on Facebook;
~a non-tenured teacher’s contract is not renewed based on his My Space profile; and
~Students create online parodies of their principal…what are the principal’s rights/obligations?
The court rulings are interesting to say the least, and not always consistent! I continued exploring…one site led to another and another. I found, as can be expected, cited cases, opinions, comments, rumors, tips, etc. Other interesting reads include: Blogging While (Publicly) Employed: Some First Amendment Implications and Teacher Disciplined for Facebook Postings . In both instances, educators were disciplined for using social networking sites to complain about their workplace.


I guarantee this topic will continue to evolve…and again, the most important thing I (we) can do is pledge to Stay Informed! Know: what is happening, what are our rights? what are the expectations as an educator and a student’s role model…

Link O'the Month: Infographics

Infographics are visual representations of data, information, and knowledge. They are intended to present simple and/or complex information quickly and clearly given a mix of text, pictures, data, charts, etc.

For example, the Infographic to the left was created by Rick Mans, author of the article How Infographics Accelerate Learning, to support his thoughts. (edudemic.com) I've also included several Infographics below to give you a taste of what’s out there!

Use the sites listed to find Infographics for use to enhance your student’s learning experiences – topics range from history to current trends, and everything in between! Or, encourage students to create their own Infographics!

~Cool Infographics www.coolinfographics.com

~Infographics in Education http://infographicsineducation.wikispaces.com

~Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything www.schrockguide.net/infographics-as-an-assessment.html

Research and the Reflective

As a reflective practitioner, I realized how to find ideas and/or how to find current writings about new technologies and ideas is not a question for me. Nor is what do these terms mean (blogroll, digital story, webinar, wiki, google lit trip, gam-o-matic). These things I can answer and most of the terms I am familiar with or can easily make sense of…

Instead a question most prominent for me is Which technologies are the best?? More specifically, for me to address with teachers, Which one(s) should I advocate in my position as an elementary technology coordinator- to promote positive and meaningful experiences and, as a result, create rigorous and significant learning? How do I integrate technology?


Often, I am asked for advice from colleagues on how to integrate technology into lessons. I remind them to treat their “techno-infused” lessons as they would all of the lessons by: First, reflecting upon their audience/ group of learners; and second, determine their desired end result given a topic/project/goal. Then, begin to explore and rationalize available technologies & tools. Keep in mind technology may not always be the best method. Just because a method may make a lesson flashy or extra-fun, it doesn’t mean it’ll add to the learning experience. Also, and most unfortunate, think about the limitations within your school’s network. (most exist under the blanket of providing security!)

After ALL that leg work, think about what the technologies can add to the learning experience…looking for the answer that works best in the scenario developed above. Creating techno-infused lessons that are meaningful can involve lots of trial-and-error. A learning experience for the student(s) as well as the teacher! Think about what might work, what did work, and what to change to make it work.
My MOST IMPORTANT piece of advice: KNOW and REALIZE that there is NOT one RIGHT answer. Nor is a RIGHT answer always a right answer. It is important to accept that what works in one situation may not work in all situations. This is where the reflective practitioner comes in…

Places to start:
Ten Technology Tools for Technology-Rich Learning
How-To: Use New Technology to Reinforce Instruction
How to Use Technology in the Classroom