Group items tagged

Brilliant and meaty post from Alex Couros about what "digital citizenship" encompasses and really means for pedagogy.

The classroom lessons on TeachableMoment.Org foster critical thinking on issues of the day and a positive classroom environment. Teachers are free to use these lessons in their classrooms. (Organized by the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility).

As millions seek new jobs to replace positions lost in the recession, keep in mind that the Internet gives employers unprecedented access to information about you.

After reviewing the positives and negatives of cell phones and cell phone usage safety tips, students will explore a scenario in which a friendly relationship turns to a bullying one involving cell phones and computers.

This morning, Elmo of Sesame Street helped Julius Genachowski of the FCC launch the child- and family-empowerment part of the FCC's universal broadband plan. But before Elmo joined him, the Federal Communications Commission's chairman spoke of the "four pillars" of broadband Internet for US families.

Excellent educator-created video offers students an introduction to the concepts of "managing personal identity online" and "digital footprint" and what it will mean in the course of their lifetime. Particularly noteworthy are the employer comments regarding what they learn from reading what job candidates have posted online and how it affects them both negatively and positively in considering the person for a job.

The implication is that we should not only strive to minimize "digital dirt" but also use social media technologies as a positive way to let the world know more about you.

Great video to show students in class. Two teens relay their experiences with positive and negative consequences of online reputations. These are true stories. The student with the blogging scholarship is the son of the president of IKEEPSAFE.

To help educators address this issue in their classrooms, Media Awareness Network has developed a series of four lesson plans, in English and in French, to give students a better understanding of the ethical and legal implications of cyberbullying and to promote positive Internet use.

One of eight interactive case studies for kids (GR 4-8) from Cable In the Classroom: Power to Learn.
It's very popular for young people to meet and connect online at sites like MySpace.com. However, an awareness of the risks and steps for being safe can ensure a positive experience with social networking. Don't give yourself away! This unit explores the concepts of identity, at-risk behaviors and safety online. The graphics are Nickelodeon style. A short quiz assesses learning. For the entire series, check out: http://powertolearn.com/internet_smarts/interactive_case_studies/index.shtml

Anthony Orsini sent an e-mail blast to the Benjamin Franklin Middle School community in Ridgewood, New Jersey, on Wednesday, urging parents to take down their children's online profiles on Facebook and elsewhere. "There is absolutely no reason for any middle school student to be a part of a social networking site!," he wrote. "Let me repeat that - there is absolutely, positively no reason for any middle school student to be a part of a social networking site!" The main problem, he wrote, is that tweens do not have the resilience to withstand internet name-calling. "They are simply not psychologically ready for the damage that one mean person online can cause," he said.

This is a very simple video that does a great job of explaining why your digital footprint should be monitored and kept positive.

Following the recent death of a NY teen who committed suicide after being tormented by classmates, Dana Boyd reflects on the language of teens, who will frequently dismiss bullying as "stupid drama" in order to minimize its impact and save face because it distances both the perpetrators and the victims from pain. She recommends a focus on more positive concepts like "healthy relationships" and "digital citizenship" rather than the negative framing of bullying.

1. Create positive digital footprints 2. Communicate with digital tools 3. Provide transparency for parents & families 4. Demonstrate effective digital citizenship 5. Learn new ways of thinking about tools 6. Global audiences/pride in work

"New Image for Computing" recently released a report in their first wave to understand the image of computing among youth. Funded by WGBH and ACM, this report examines both race/ethnicity and sex-based differences in perceptions of computing. What they found was that there is little race/ethnicity-based differences in how youth perceive CS but there are HUGE gender based differences in perception.

When it comes to job hunting, people have no shortage of concerns: preparing a compelling resume, providing polished answers to interview questions, and having excellent references, just to name a few. But since the word "Google" became a verb, job seekers have one more thing to worry about: ensuring their online records won't deter hiring managers from making a job offer. Many employers are incorporating an informal online search of applicants into their review process. Whether or not negative information about you exists on the web, it's a good idea to ensure there are plenty of positive associations. This article from the folks at Adobe makes four recommendations for how to manage your digital footprint.

When schools first established on-ramps for the information superhighway, the common wisdom was that "filters would protect children as they use the Internet." I never bought into that myth. My position has always been that the best filtering software sits under the hardware that rides on top of the shoulders.

This article, by John Palfree, is part of an online symposium on the First Amendment Center Online titled Cyberbullying & Public Schools. The author concludes that there is no easy answer to the problem of online bullying and that the most effective approach - education, with a view toward establishing positive social norms - is the hardest to accomplish. John Palfrey chaired the Internet Safety Technical Task Force in 2008. He is the co-author of Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives\n\n

Some educators have expressed an appreciation for the irony of experienced instructors who have had to learn about social media later in their careers teaching it to younger students who have grown up in an Internet environment. Despite what may seem to be somewhat of a disadvantage, the experienced teacher brings life lessons and the ability to guide students in a positive direction no matter the topic being taught. The tips, tools, and resources listed here can assist any teacher with the basics about social media and ways to share that information with students.

My Pop Studio is a creative play experience that strengthens critical thinking skills about television, music, magazines and online media directed at girls. Users select from four behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn more about mass media: My Pop Studio strengthens media literacy skills, promotes positive youth development, and increases knowledge about health issues. Highly interactive creative play activities are used to create an online community that guides users through the process of deconstructing, analyzing and creating media. Video segments, flash animation, media deconstruction games and quizzes, and moderated blogs make the website lively, fun and educational. My Pop Studio was created by a team of researchers and media professionals at the Media Education Lab, located at Temple University's School of Communication.