In Miss Eaton's class, our learners have been hard at work creating their very own children's books on internet safety using StoryBird.com or Book Creator. Here's one of our favorite examples about three adorable pups named Harold, Samquel, and Rufus:
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The amazing Mr. Heisey put together a video for us showcasing what our learners have been up to in the CYMS Hub so far this year. If you're interested in what we've been working on, definitely check it out! You've probably heard about etiquette, but have you ever heard of netiquette? Just as there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to behave in social situations in the "real world", there are also standards of conduct for behaving properly in cyberspace. In Mrs. Howell's class students discussed digital etiquette, like the following guidelines, which were excerpted from the book Netiquette by Virginia Shea: They also watched a fun video about digital pet peeves and talked about their own pet peeves when it comes to the world of technology. Here are a few of their responses: Erica (Grade 7): One thing that annoys me is when people are on their phones while in line for something and are ignoring the person trying to help them. Nick (Grade 7): When I get a text and I am not using my phone. If I don't notice that I got a text, they spam 'hi' so many times. Ryan (Grade 7): When girls take duck face selfies. LOL Jaanvi (Grade 8): When I am trying to talk to someone and they're just staring at their phone. Jadon (Grade 8): When I send a long message and the only response is, "K". In Miss Eaton's class, learners discussed many topics related to internet safety and appropriate use. One of the questions they discussed was, Is it fair for districts to limit access to any or all websites? Why or why not? Here are a few of our learners' thoughts on the subject: Allison (Grade 8): Yes it is fair because, during class, a student could be on a website they aren't supposed to be on such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr. They may not be paying attention in class because of these websites. Connor (Grade 7): It's not okay because the principals should trust us as students. If someone makes a bad decision, not everyone should pay for it. Makaya (Grade 8): I think some websites are fair for schools to limit access. Some websites are inappropriate and shouldn't be viewed in schools, but not all of the websites the school blocks are inappropriate like some research websites, which limits students access to information. Maddie (Grade 7): No, because the teachers tell us to follow them on Twitter and social media, but we can’t see what they post because it is blocked. Anthony (Grade 8): I think that it is fair for schools to limit access to websites. I think that it is fair because many online sites can be very distracting, which would cause a student to not pay attention or stop whatever they were doing. And last, but not least, in Mrs. Koplitz class learners discussed the ins and outs of social media and social networking, as well as the safety and security issues that are involved with each platform. They also shared their favorite sites, and what they believe are the pros and cons of social networking, which they'll be adding to brochures they're creating on digital communication, commerce, and literacy.
Every day is full of new, exciting, and relevant topics here at the Hub - can't wait to see what discussions happen tomorrow! Our learners have graduated from their first unit in the Hub and are embarking on a new rotation. Each class will be working with one of our three lovely facilitators for six days. Miss Eaton's class will be collaborating in small groups to create a children's book about internet safety which will be shared with our elementary students. Eighth graders will be using the website Storyboard That, while the seventh graders and eighth graders with iPads will be using the Book Creator app on their devices. One of our favorite ideas so far is a group of students who decided to go with a twist on the well-loved story of Cinderella - instead of losing her glass slipper Cinderella will be leaving her iPad on the castle steps. We can't wait to see how Prince Charming solves that mystery! Mrs. Koplitz' group are working toward becoming more informed digital citizens. They'll be looking into a few specific areas including:
And last, but certainly not least, Mrs. Howell's class will be discussing the digital etiquette, access, and law, focusing on the digital divide that currently exists in our country and worldwide (learn more about the digital divide right here.) Although our district is leveling the playing field by providing all of our learners with the technology and resources needed to compete in today's world, not everyone has access to technology or the skills to utilize it (like Lynette, for example). Students will be discussing what groups are lacking digital access and why, as well as how some are trying to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots (like Microsoft and its founder Bill Gates, who have created the Badiliko Project to provide internet access, devices, and education to Sub-Saharan Africa, or how Philadelphia is dreaming of city-wide internet access as well as working to provide free digital literacy training to its citizens.)
Exciting stuff! We can't wait to see the end result of all of our learners' hard work and collaborative efforts - stay tuned! |
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October 2017
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