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03:28 pm August 2, 2011 Twitter (27) Facebook (685) E-mail Share Stumble Upon Reddit Linkedin Digg What is this? Share Print Comments (146) Recommend (32)   by Eyder Peralta August 2, 2011 Listen to the Story All Things Considered [3 min 38 sec] Add to Playlist Download Transcript   A law signed into law last month in Missouri is making waves nationally, this week. A small part of the wide-ranging SB54, makes it illegal for teachers to be "friends" with students on any social networking site that allows private communication. That means teachers and students can't be friends on Facebook or can't follow each other on Twitter for example. All Things Considered's Michele Norris spoke to an eighth grade teacher from Joplin, Mo., who opposes the new law. Randy Turner, who teaches English, said as teachers your job is to reach out to students and that means going where they are and now a days students have shunned e-mail and are using social networking sites to communicate. The larger bill, explained Turner, was passed with great support because it was intended to protect children from predatory teachers. It was intended, he said, to stop what is termed "passing the trash," which is when teachers who have had inappropriate contact with students resign quietly only to be hired by another school. But Turner argues instead of protecting children, this new law may be hurting them. "We may be preventing them from talking to the very people who may be able to help," he said. In a story last month, Springfield's KSPR talked to a teacher from Nixa, Mo. Band Director Craig Finger said he has no problem with the law, because the lines between teacher and student are clear to him. "... If you ask any one of these kids it's very clear we're not friends," Finger said. "We don't friend any students. If you haven't graduated we're not friends. I think the only people I've friended under 18 are my niece and nephew." But Turner said that in the aftermath of the massive Joplin tornado that killed more than 100, Facebook proved instrumental. He was able to locate 20 students to find out they were OK, because he was friends with them on Facebook. Another teacher, said Turner, who monitors the chatter on Facebook was able to stop a fig

McGraw-Hill Education today announced that it has formed a collaboration with ePals Corporation, an education media company and the world's leading global learning network.

pairs world-class content from McGraw-Hill Networks, McGraw-Hill Education's award-winning digital social studies learning program for Grades 6-12, with ePals' global community and social learning platform.

he collaboration will allow teachers and students to connect with peers in more than 200 countries to enjoy the type of authentic, global learning experiences that are required for 21st century education and workplace success.

what needs still remain

it’s difficult for them to find native or fluent language speakers that their students can interact with.

finding a way for students to really engage with fluent language speakers remains a challenge.

Features

ou want an opportunity for your kids to communicate with other kids about what they are learning,” says Becky Fisher, the director of educational technology and professional development for the 13,000-student Albemarle County school district in central Virginia

Teaching teens about the ethical treatment of others on the web and of websites and intellectual property (such as music, videos, and written materials) in cyberspace can help prevent cybercrime. While youth who commit cybercrimes may realize that their actions are wrong, they may not know that their Internet behaviors are illegal. A U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office Task Force categorizes cybercrime in three ways: The computer as a target (using a computer to attack other computers) The computer as a weapon (using a computer to commit a crime) The computer as an accessory (using a computer to store illegal files or information)

ePal's Global Community is made up of classrooms from over 200 countries. Each classroom has a unique profile that  enables students and teachers to safely connect and collaborate on projects with classrooms worldwide. It's a learning tool that provides students to learn about new cultures and what other kids their age are like.

Submitted by Sarah Anderson on July 11, 2012 Keywords: Stereotypes and bias One of the simplest ways to foster compassion and understanding in our classrooms is to give students opportunities to share stories about their lives. By communicating and listening, students can break down stereotypes and see each other as real people.

Celebrating diversity is not just about recognizing other cultures and ethnicities. It is also about acknowledging that we all have rich and complex stories with varied pasts and personal struggles. The more we know about each other’s lives, the easier it is to accept and understand. 

One was the experience of working in small groups on class assignments. In fact, all three pairs identified group work as a crucial opportunity that allowed them to meet and get to know someone outside their typical circle of friends. Students also spoke about belonging to a community that honors diversity. Unlike the high school I attended, the school where I teach views diversity as an important component of students’ learning.

YouTube is rolling out some big new ways to engage with the education community. Continuing with our look at how YouTube can aid teachers and students, it’s probably a good idea to actually outline exactly how the video service can help in the classroom.

Help Both Struggling And Advanced Students Videos (or playlists) can help supplement in class teaching for struggling students. Students can review them at home so you’re not forced to teach exclusively to the middle 50%. YouTube user piazzaalexis uses videos like this to address misunderstandings and allow his students to review difficult concepts.