4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.
a. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
Each year my students complete a Research Project in Writing on a specific Ancient Civilization. Before the students are allowed to go out and research on their own, I do extensive modeling on how they are supposed to conduct their research. We start with choosing a topic, coming up with questions we want to answer while research, and then we finally get into what you need to do while you research. The biggest idea I hit is the concept of plagiarism. In order to help my students avoid plagiarism we provide our students with a Bibliography Worksheet. This worksheet allows students to easily know what they need to write down as they research so they may give the correct credit to correct person. I then show them how their research needs to be guided and what makes for good and bad websites. We finally create an example paper for the students to see how it should be written/typed up.
When my students first begin creating projects that involve the internet in my classroom, we have a discussion about the importance of being safe on the internet. The discussion is mostly about what kind of information they should or should not be giving out, as well as a review of what make a site a good one to look at. This year I have also included a section about cyber bullying due to the fact that we have had problems with it in our elementary school.
b. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
In my classroom students conduct a research project over ancient civilizations. In my lessons I model how to conduct a research project before my students even are allowed to set out on their own. We go through several steps such as how to select a topic, how to research the topics, which websites are credible and which aren't, and what information you need for the bibliography. This is all done on my SMARTBoard and with the Computer Cart that holds 28 laptop computers. We recommend that students try to do research on their own, but we know that it can be very challenging for some students to get to library or internet access. In order to even the playing field, I allow for several days of research with the computers in my classroom. I also allow for several days of typing up their final drafts so that everyone has a chance to complete their projects here at school.
c. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information
In the next few years my school will be switching over from Microsoft Office to Google Apps. In those years I will show my students how to create documents using Google Docs, Power Points using Google Presentation just like I have done throughout this program. As I am demonstrating how to use these applications, I will also be showing them what it means to work collaboratively and responsibly in groups using the applications.
d. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools
A colleague approached me this year about doing a Christmas card exchange with a school in South Africa. I jumped on the idea of giving my students access to students from another country. I am going to have students create their cards using Microsoft Publisher or Google Drawing. My lesson plan will include having the students include information like what they like to do after school, favorite subjects, and other likes. After the exchange I will have students continue communicate through e-mail with the students from the other school. This will be a class pen-pal exchange that will allow them to get more information about this other culture.
a. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
Each year my students complete a Research Project in Writing on a specific Ancient Civilization. Before the students are allowed to go out and research on their own, I do extensive modeling on how they are supposed to conduct their research. We start with choosing a topic, coming up with questions we want to answer while research, and then we finally get into what you need to do while you research. The biggest idea I hit is the concept of plagiarism. In order to help my students avoid plagiarism we provide our students with a Bibliography Worksheet. This worksheet allows students to easily know what they need to write down as they research so they may give the correct credit to correct person. I then show them how their research needs to be guided and what makes for good and bad websites. We finally create an example paper for the students to see how it should be written/typed up.
When my students first begin creating projects that involve the internet in my classroom, we have a discussion about the importance of being safe on the internet. The discussion is mostly about what kind of information they should or should not be giving out, as well as a review of what make a site a good one to look at. This year I have also included a section about cyber bullying due to the fact that we have had problems with it in our elementary school.
b. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
In my classroom students conduct a research project over ancient civilizations. In my lessons I model how to conduct a research project before my students even are allowed to set out on their own. We go through several steps such as how to select a topic, how to research the topics, which websites are credible and which aren't, and what information you need for the bibliography. This is all done on my SMARTBoard and with the Computer Cart that holds 28 laptop computers. We recommend that students try to do research on their own, but we know that it can be very challenging for some students to get to library or internet access. In order to even the playing field, I allow for several days of research with the computers in my classroom. I also allow for several days of typing up their final drafts so that everyone has a chance to complete their projects here at school.
c. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information
In the next few years my school will be switching over from Microsoft Office to Google Apps. In those years I will show my students how to create documents using Google Docs, Power Points using Google Presentation just like I have done throughout this program. As I am demonstrating how to use these applications, I will also be showing them what it means to work collaboratively and responsibly in groups using the applications.
d. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools
A colleague approached me this year about doing a Christmas card exchange with a school in South Africa. I jumped on the idea of giving my students access to students from another country. I am going to have students create their cards using Microsoft Publisher or Google Drawing. My lesson plan will include having the students include information like what they like to do after school, favorite subjects, and other likes. After the exchange I will have students continue communicate through e-mail with the students from the other school. This will be a class pen-pal exchange that will allow them to get more information about this other culture.