Software and assessment

Jenn and I are going to learn and use with our students the open source software Google earth.
It is an incredible piece of software that allows you to plug in any address and visually see this destination. I am going to target one 5th grade class to use google earth by inputting their home address and Sunset Elementary School's address. I will have them locate parks and recreational activities close to their home and have them find out how many miles these are from their home, as well as how many miles they live from school. I'm going to use a zoomerang survey to find out these distances, as well as incorporate some questions about their activity level and how often they walk to or use the parks and recreational facilities near their homes. After researching various assessment tools, I liked the choices of zoomerang in making your own survey or using premade ones. I will write my own questions, and am excited to use this new tool.

cyberbullying

Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.^[1]

In September 2006, ABC News reported on a survey prepared by I-Safe.Org. This 2004 survey of 1,500 students between grades 4-8 reported:

• 42% of kids have been bullied while online. One in four have had it happen more than once.
• 35% of kids have been threatened online. Nearly one in five had had it happen more than once.
• 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mails or other messages.
• 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than four out of ten say it has happened more than once.
• 58% have not told their parents or an adult about something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.

Cyberbullying is a huge problem with tweens and teens. Many have moved from being physical to bullying others online which cause tremendous stress in their lives. All technology users must be given specific rules with how to treat others online and bullying must not be tolerated!!

Helpful websites: www.stopcyberbullying.org; www.digizen.org.

Netiquette

"What is Netiquette? Simply stated, it's network etiquette -- that is, the etiquette of cyberspace. And "etiquette" means "the forms required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be required in social or official life." In other words, Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly online. " Virginia Shea, Netiquette.

I enjoyed finding information about netiquette - good manners when communicating online. I feel it is very important to teach our students, as well as our children, the proper rules when using technology. Like Sam said in class - we teach our students rules on the playground, rules in games, rules how to behave in our classrooms, so we need to teach them how to properly behave when they are online!! Virginia lists these 10 rules as follows:

• Rule 1: Remember the Human

• Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life

• Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace

• Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth

• Rule 5: Make yourself look good online

• Rule 6: Share expert knowledge

• Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control

• Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy

• Rule 9: Don't abuse your power

• Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

Good sites for information: www.wikipedia.com, www.bpl.org/kids/netiquette, www.livinginternet.com

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling is an excellent way for anyone to share pictures while writing about the adventures associated with those pictures.  I found a website with a wealth of information not only for the beginner, but for teachers to use in their classrooms, for the mac user, and for anyone needing tips on how to put a story together.  This website is www.kenton.k12.ky.us/digitalstory.dstindex.htm.