According to author Troy Hicks (2013) "Students today may be "born digital," but it is our job to help them become "purposeful and creative writers." I could not agree more. This generation of students has grown up with ipads, smartphones and computers so reading, writing, and researching using technology is not new to them. However, using technology with responsibility or "digital citizenship" sometimes is new to them. The following video featuring Dr. Robin Bright talks about just how much students sometimes do not know.
As part of our Google Apps for Education (GAFE) pilot group in our county I have been given a classroom set of chromebooks to use with my students. Part of this pilot required me to go through digital citizenship training with my students before them being given email addresses and GAFE accounts. The unit I used was one that I found through Common Sense Media that had lesson plans, videos and follow up activities for the students to do. The students enjoyed it, but it became very obvious that although they are very comfortable tweeting, swiping, posting, clicking and snapchatting away, they oftentimes do not realize the amount of responsibility that goes along with it. This responsibility is a key factor both in digital citizenship and in the college and career readiness standards. This responsiblity must be reiterated and reinforced throughout a student's educational journey. As students move from middle school to high school and from high school to college, this becomes even more important. We, as teachers, have to impart to our students how "colleges and companies look to discover a student's web presence before offering them a position"(Hicks 2013) and that what they do now on their own time on their phones, Instagram and Twitter accounts can affect them later in life. We need to help our students focus on building a digital portfolio that paints them in a positive light and highlights their achievements as well as provides them a permanent place for their exemplary writing and presentations. I look forward to moving into the digital age with my students by becoming a good digital citizen and crafting my digital writing and footprint carefully.
References:
Hicks, T. (2013). Crafting Digital Writing. Portsmouth: Heinemann.
Digital Literacy & Citizenship Classroom Curriculum. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2015, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum
Farrah,
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about the implementation of Google Apps For Education in your classroom! As you mentioned in the opening line of your blog, we must help our students set a purpose for and be creative in their writing. In my opinion, this may become more difficult as students get older because they will know how easy it is to reword a friend's post or research the answer to a question. I see this at the third grade level through mentor texts because some students simply copy the book rather than trying to be creative in their own piece of writing. I believe this is why Hicks says it's about "helping students identify, explore, and employ authors craft" (p. 19). We must start small and help our students learn to use mentor texts as inspiration rather than the basis for a new story.
Yes, I agree! The ability to "copy and paste" has made this temptation much greater. Students have to understand the purpose behind writing and creating their own work.
DeleteI agree that students do not see the consequences of the writing they do, but they did not understand that in the pre-digital age either. It's just that now they potentially have an audience that does not know them personally and can only judge them based on what they have written. Hicks (2013) cites Sara Kajder who says that "students may be 'tech comfy,' but they are not necessarily 'tech savvy" (p. 20). We are the guides who must convey to them that they must be intentional, even in the most casual of posts. After all, their words can reach many and for years to come. They are now PUBLISHED AUTHORS! "Becoming intentional moves them closer to becoming active, informed citizens who craft messages in smart, productive ways" (p. 20).
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading this post, I thought about the same quote from Hicks (2013) as Margaret. I think he makes an excellent point that so many adults do not realize--that students may be comfortable using technologies, but they may not know everything they need to know in order to use them safely, effectively, or efficiently. I was surprised in the video above when Dr. Bright said 50% of teens do not know how to change their privacy settings on social networking/media sites, which I would guess is how vastly more than 50% of their technology consumption lies.
ReplyDeleteI agree that teaching students how their present web presence can truly affect their future opportunities. I read an article last year which warned parents to be careful what they say and post about their young children online. It mentioned how facial recognition and web searches as their child grows up could link a potential boss, college, or coworker to an anecdotal blog about a once-poor attitude, or a sloppy living room floor, and leave a negative opinion with the reader.
Valerie, reading your last post gave me shivers! Our technology is so far ahead of our understanding of its drawbacks. Criminals---including child predators--know much better how to use the Internet. I have stopped posting pictures of my grandchildren because I don't want strangers to see them and target them. How sad is that? The social media that we all use to praise our loved ones may be the very thing that makes our loved ones targets. How can we convey the dangers to our students when we don't even know ourselves how to protect ourselves and our loved ones? Legislation is long overdue, regulations are long overdue, and a public service campaign to educate citizens is long overdue. I wonder if there is something we educators can do to facilitate awareness--you know, an organized campaign to make everyone aware of best practices?
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