Though you get a sense of how history has changed over the
last few decades since the Internet has come about, most of my focus was drawn
to The Learners as Teachers section of the chapter. The author talks about how, “we must tap into
the potentials that these tools give us for learning” (Richardson, 2010), referring
of course to blogs, wikis and other technologies. Sometimes we forget that teachers can never
stop learning and we must constantly hone our craft. The Internet has given us a great tool to
promote lifelong learning, and that is what must instill in our students. It is not just about the here and now, the
hurry up and get a grade or getting to the next grade. It’s a process that should last a lifetime
and cross social boundaries that give us a better understanding of the world as
a whole.
I also liked the Keeping Students Safe section of this
chapter. Given that at least once a week
you see things in the news about the evils of the Internet, protection of
students must be a priority. Both
understanding and planning are crucial elements when dealing with young
children and the web. Students must be
brought into this realm very slowly and with rules. Words like accountability and responsibility must
be used often, considering the amount of inappropriate and polluted content available
at the press of a button. Explain what
right looks like in detail and face things head on. Reminding students once
something is published, it is extremely hard to retract it and could haunt them
forever.
Works Cited:
Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.
No comments:
Post a Comment