NETS for Students and Teachers

To me, new literacies with regard to technology is simply redefining the way we used to view literacy by incorporating more technology into it. Before this age of computers and different softwares, students and teachers relied on books and magazines to gather information. Today, the internet is one of the first places people go to to research. Not only is the internet used for looking for information, but other technologies are starting to take the place of books (kindles, ipads, tablets, etc). These devices are becoming more and more commonly used among people, in some instances taking the place of traditional books with actual pages made of paper. There are new literacies advancing in education, too. Many teachers are using programs such as blogs, or edmodo to receive student responses versus the traditional paper/pencil method.

NETS for students defines what students are expected to know and achieve with regard to technology. Technology will be a big part of how students collaborate (with teachers and with each other). A big thing to remember too is that through the use of technology students will be able to reach a wider audience. Posting blogs and comments online can reach anyone on the web. This is an amazing thing. Students will be writing for a wider, more vast audience, an audience that expands beyond the people in their classrooms. Digital citizenship is a big part of NETS for students. Recently we have heard some cases (sometimes devastating) of people using the internet inappropriately and for the use of bad versus good. We've seen and heard cases of cyberbullying, something that needs to stop. Teaching digital citizenship is such vital piece of this technology movement. Students need to understand what it means to be responsible and respectful when working online.

NETS for teachers defines how teachers can model using different technology programs to their students while simultaneously promoting opportunities for students to practice using these technologies in an appropriate manner. Teachers should be incorporating more technology into their lessons (for both instruction and assessment). It is also the teacher's job to really explain the importance of digital citizenship and what it means to be a respectful and good digital citizen when it comes to using the internet. Teachers need to set up and enforce rules of safe and respectful internet behavior with students before beginning any type of digital work. I believe this needs to start early. Students need to understand what is and what isn't appropriate behavior when using computers and the internet.

I know that if I decide to blog with my students, I will make sure to set up rules beforehand. I would discuss with my students what types of responses and comments are appropriate and which ones are not. I would make sure to explain how we all must be respectful of one another. Students need to understand that the good manners and behaviors that are expected of them in school are also expected of them online.

In my own classroom, I want to try to incorporate more technology into my lessons. One idea I had was having my students create a wordle document of the book we are reading. I may have them each choose a character and come up with adjectives that describe him/her. This might be a good way to get them started and more used to using technology.

Has anyone used wordle? I'm wondering if there might be other programs out there that are similar that I may also try to use. How else are people incorporating technology into their lessons?

Blogging on the Read/Write Web

In these first chapters, Richardson alludes to the idea that technology is really making waves in all aspects of life today, including education. He explains that the people who will know the most about these technologies are probably just being born. Teachers today face somewhat of a challenge given that many are not fully aware of the programs out there and how to best use them in their classrooms. Richardson states: "Whereas students are open to the ways of new technologies, schools by and large are not" (8). With regard to technology, schools at times lack appropriate resources and teachers who may have the materials do not always know how to best use them.

One of the ideas that Richardson mentions is the usage of blogs between students and teachers. I created a blog last year in my graduate technology class. I was able to experience first hand the power of sharing ideas through a medium in which everyone can participate. Richardson explains that one of the benefits of blogging is that it opens up the window for all students to participate and learn from each other. Quieter students might shy away from voicing ideas and opinions during class, but through usage of a blog, they will be  more apt to feel comfortable writing their thoughts down for others to read.

Richardson mentions other types of programs that I would like to explore and get to know better. He mentions social bookmarking sites such as Diigo.com and Delicious.com  that I had never even heard of. Even twitter.com is a bit abstract to me. I know people who use it, but I myself have had no experience navigating it.

Just by reading through these first two chapters I have seen what a powerful tool blogs can be. I was amazed to see that a class of students was able to communicate through blogs with the author of The Secret Life of Bees. This blog is an example of what can happen when people collaborate through the use of blogs.

Though I can see the many different advantages of incorporating blogs into teaching and learning, I can't help but worry about the safety issue. Richardson touches on this issue in chapter one and explains that one of the first things to do is talk about the rules and expectations of your students with regard to blogging before beginning to blog. Once students have a good understanding of what is and what is not appropriate internet behavior, a class can begin to share ideas through blogs. I'm curious if anyone in this class has tried blogging with their students. I teach elementary school so I'm wondering how this might work with my students. I know that not all of them have a computer at home. I could take them to the computer lab when I wanted them to respond on a blog. Any ideas? I'd love to hear what experiences people have had with blogging with their own students. How did you promote safety for your students while they work online?

Having said this, I learned a great deal last semester about digital citizenship and what it means to behave appropriately on the web. If anyone wants to look at the blog I created last spring, click here to see it.

Sources:
Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

This is Me

My name is Diana. I teach ESL and Bilingual Ed in an elementary school. I received my Bachelor's Degree from Southern CT State University in elementary education and bilingual education. I am studying at USJ for my Master's in Reading and Language for Elementary School. After this course I have one left to take, and then I can graduate!!

I am originally from Madrid, Spain and am bilingual in English and Spanish. I have been living in CT since I was 8 years old. I am enjoying my first year as a full-time teacher and love all of my little ELL students :)



I have a very loving family and a wonderful boyfriend. I also have a Golden Retriever named Regina. She truly is the queen of our house! Her favorite food is bread (something I think she learned from me!) While I love different seasons, I'm more of a sun-loving kind of person. We have family coming from Spain this summer, so I am really excited for that! While it's an experience having family in a different country, it can also be hard having them so far away. But I've learned to cope and just truly enjoy the time that I do have with them.

I'm hoping to learn many new ways to incorporate technology into my teaching. I've taken one other technology course previous to this one, and I have become very interested in some of the programs out there!