GEM 5 From Fear to Facebook

Chapter 5 Smart Parenting in a Facebook Age

            I really liked how the school from the book hosted a Parent Media Night.  During these meetings they would discuss strategies about how to talk to their kids about online safety and what to tell them.  The parents could share stories about things that have worked for them so that other parents might try them, and on the other side parents could bring up issues they have been having and look for some suggestions.  Parents can also try to agree on some of the norms of online behavior so there might be some consistency among the community as a whole.

            There is also a very interesting issue discussed in this chapter about appropriate teacher to student communication.  There have been quite a few controversies arisen out of teachers friending their students on Facebook and different events that might follow that.  Facebook can be a fun tool to use in the classroom but teachers need to be cautious and not put themselves in a situation where something might be misunderstood and an accusation is brought up.

GEM 4 From Fear to Facebook

Chapter 4 Kids Online: Lying as the New School Norm?

            There is an interesting debate going on in this between whether or not kids should be lying on the Internet.  On one hand, kids need to protect themselves from things like online predators.  But on the other hand, it seems that we might be encouraging kids to lie not only on the computer but it carries over to what they are telling their parents.   This is a tricky situation because first and for most you want to make the kids are safe when they are online, but if this is translated to kids lying about what is going on when they are online to their parents then is that worth it?

            One way to handle this is to have some classes that will teach and help reinforce ways to stay safe online and how to handle different situations.  The school in the book had something called Ethical Decision Making classes where they taught kids why and how to protect themselves online but they also gave so different scenarios so the kids could brainstorm together negative and positive ways to handle the situation.  These classes will hopefully teach kids the importance of protecting themselves when they are online and to know that part of protecting yourself involves telling your parents about the things going on when you are on the Internet.

GEM 3 From Fear to Facebook

Chapter 3 iTunes Schools: Customized Learning for the 21^st Century

            I liked that someone was concerned that schools were beginning to lose the face-to-face contact between students and teachers.  Technology is great and all and it’s nice to have to possibility to do more individualizing with online courses but we can’t neglect the power of the person to person contact.  Teachers have the possibility to make a positive impact on many kids but that possibility does not exist if there is no contact. 

            I’m not sure about this whole idea of kids being able to move at their own pace with a more individualized lesson plans.  It sounds like a great idea, especially since teachers would be able to make sure each child as the proper amount of understanding before moving on.  However, I don’t know how practical this would be.  Most schools have a state standardize test they need to administer to their students towards the end of the year.  It sounds bad, but there are some students that need to be pushed along so that they are at least exposed to all the material before the test otherwise there is just no hope for them.  Now some might argue that it is better to have a great understanding of some of the material rather than a vague understanding of all the material, but there is some much material covered on a standardized test like that because is tests over everything covered all year long.  These tests are starting to hold more and more weight to them as far as determining how much funding a school might get and sometimes it might even determine whether or not a teacher will keep their job.  There is too much riding on these tests to just let kids move along at their own pace throughout the year.

GEM 2 From Fear to Facebook

Chapter 2 Schools and Facebook: Moving Too Fast, or Not Fast Enough?

            I really like the idea of “sharing the reins” with the kids.  I know this is something that even some teachers at progressive schools do not really jump up on board with, but I have always been a fan of letting the kids have some control in the classroom.  Now this can vary greatly within age groups.  I’ve kind of gone with the saying that if you treat kids like kids, then that’s how they will act, but if you give them a little responsibility then they will rise up to the challenge and begin to act more responsible.  Plus, I also think that if kids have a little say in what they do for projects then they will get a little more excited about it and hopefully produce some quality work.

            There can be a real problem when it comes to communication.  There is the possibility of a large language barrier between technology natives and technology immigrants.  Granted some technology immigrants have educated themselves very well and can speak the language as good as any technology native, but that is not always the case.  Some of these baby boomers that are in the classrooms are going to have to take the initiative to learn about technology and the lingo that goes with it.

            I also liked the idea of “mirroring the online lives of the students.”   Using what they kids already know and use all the time can help create more interest in the lesson and therefore would hopefully result in the students getting less distracted with other apps on the computers. This could also create a 24/7 learning environment if the kids are so intrigued with the project or lesson they might spend some time outside of the classroom with it.  For example, if Facebook is incorporated into a lesson then the students might be inclined to continue looking at and thinking about the lesson at home since Facebook is already probably a part of their home life.

GEM 1 From Fear to Facebook

Chapter 1 Lessons Learned: Starting a 1-to-1 Laptop Program

            I was glad that I actually knew the 1983 movie he was referencing at the beginning of this chapter.  War Games is a great movie but I’ve never considered it in a way he used it.  I probably shouldn’t be surprised anymore but I am still taken aback when I see three year olds maneuver around an iPad better then most adults.  But the truth is, kids know technology and pick up on it so fast.  If schools move towards a laptop for every child then the adults are going to have to be on their toes or they will have some pretty tech savvy kids hacking into administrator’s accounts.

            It’s weird to think that schools are outgrowing their technology when they have something like a laptop cart.  That is something I never would have dreamed of my junior high or high school getting.  But it makes sense though.  I can see where it would be frustrating to have all those computers but they aren’t charged or kids can’t find their work because it’s all saved on different computers. 

            This school had some great stories of their first year with the laptops.  I loved they way one teacher was really into incorporating the technology.  As she put it, she was “meeting the kids where they are.”  She tried to use the technology the kids already used and liked into her lessons.  For example she used iTunes, Google images and other stuff to spruce up her PowerPoint.  She also had some projects where Facebook was used.