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?