The Global Classroom

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We're currently using the lessons on Common Sense Media to develop mini-lessons on digital citizenship to run through our middle school advisory program in the 2014-15 school year.

This is a straightforward article we often see about 'uses in the classroom'. Professionally, there are many useful examples about how to use Skype: Connecting with international classrooms, guest lecturers, interviews, and other examples. The idea of a guest lecturer is appealing. I have used it before to connect my students with classrooms around the world.

This is a really interesting and challenging legal issue. The article is an opinion piece on current anti-bullying legislation in Iowa. The author takes a position against the bills' position that schools have authority to discipline cyber-bullying issues outside of school hours. The author's position is that the bill violates students' first amendment rights. I would tend to agree, although anytime a teacher does set up a forum through facebook, twitter, or some other public sharing place, the school does have the responsibility to teach cyber-citizenship and monitor those forums created through or by the school. For example, if a classroom teacher has students create twitter accounts for class or a facebook group for a lesson, then the school has the responsibility to get involved. The lines do get blurred, though, and it is not a 'cut and dried' situation that one bill can adequately respond to on it's own.

Now that a growing majority of Internet users have broadband, YouTube and other video clip sites ( Google Video, Vimeo, etc.) have become very popular - especially with young adults. These sites also provide English learners and classes with a new tool to improve listening skills.

Some excellent educational content can be found on YouTube. However, many teachers cannot access YouTube in their classrooms. That is why I originally wrote what became one of the most popular posts to ever appear on Free Technology for Teachers, 30+ Alternatives to YouTube.

Great website.. I liked the class contract they had as a PDF.

Some basic highlights of Googles new add-ons for kids...one highlight is EasyBib is now embedded!

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During the pre-Valentine's day #langchat, participants were sharing the resource love by talking about some of the best ways to incorporate native language speaking interactions into the classroom. Not only were some of the best online apps discussed, but the virtues of old-fashioned pen-pals were extolled and some excellent tips were shared from teachers who have years of experience managing native language speaking activities.

This post is not about technology. It's about how we (humankind) have been wiring our brains to think about technology. We have quite a hole to climb out of. Not only are our brains already "wired to scout for the bad stuff," the Huffington Post reports, referring to what neuropsychologist and author Rick Hanson calls our "negativity bias."

Guidance for parents and young people on cyberbullying, including advice for ending (or preventing) the cycle of aggression. For a more comprehensive look, see A Parents' Guide to Cyberbullying. For kids and teens Know that it's not your fault. What people call "bullying" is sometimes an argument between two people.

sites for internet safety

There are some excellent sites here to use to teach kids how to be a safe and ethical cyber citizen

The original site of cybercitizenship.org has some good resources for teachers, students and parents like the one that is bookmarked more for the elementary age.

Very good website for all age groups, but I focused on the teen area since that is who I teach. This has a really good video playing out scenarios of what cyberbullying is and how it affects all involved.

This site offers a look at empathy in education. There is a definition, rationale, lesson plans and a forum.

The new Table of Contents app in Google will help teachers find and use standards in their lesson plans.

The "rock star" librarian Joyce Valenza blogs on Google's new add-ons and how they can benefit students.

Using Google Apps in the Classroom - PowerPoint Style