Understanding Web Connections : Where does the power of the Web lie?

I have used voicethread and blogs with my kids and they think it’s terrific. I was also recently introduced to a program called Story Bird. I love it because we can send it to family and friends overseas and they get to experience a little of what goes on in the child’s classroom. I think the power of the Web lies in the fact that we can stay connected with people far and wide in so many ways. Students regularly skype with grandparents and not only do they get to hear each other’s voices, they also get to see their faces. I have students who love playing with Google Earth and look at the streets that they used to live on. I have yet to show my kids how collaborate learning can truly exist, but I think that would be real cool and help add a whole new dimension to the online world for my students.

Student Safety/Bullying : Who's responsibility is it to teach students to be safe online?

If my students are using computers in my classroom, it is my responsibility to teach them how to be safe and also how to be accountable for their actions and comments. Our jobs as educators should be to teach and prepare kids to become safe and responsible digital users. When I teach my first graders how to read, I also have to teach them how to take care of the books and teach them how to choose ‘just right’ and appropriate books. When I teach them how to work in groups, I first have to teach them how to communicate properly, how to take turns, and how to listen respectfully to one another. The same rules apply for working with the Internet and computers. Students should learn that working alone or collaborate online is not much different that working together face to face. All the rules we have for face-to-face meetings should apply when working online. Parents of course play a big role in helping us teach students to be safe online, they are the ones who get computers for their kids; they are the ones who buy the software and games. They need to make sure they themselves understand the ramifications of cyber safety and cyber bullying so that they can better educate their children.

Copyright Usage and Plagiarism : What's our role as educators in copyright usage in schools?

We so often say, “well we live in China, who cares about copyright and plagiarism?” The kids here are so used to walking into a DVD store and picking up the latest Hannah Montana or Ben 10 movie. It seems so natural to them but I wonder if many of them understand truly what is happening here. They might just think that this is how movies and music are produced and disturbed. This issue is on course something that should be discussed, but more importantly I think is for schools to make sure they are buying authentic software and not copied versions (even though it is very tempting and easy in a place like China). We have become so dependent on the Internet that I think many students (and adults) do not realize they are infringing on copyright laws and plagiarizing. It is important that we teach our students how to properly use and cite information they collect online. This will become increasingly more important as they continue to use the Internet to do research projects or other kind of work.

Digital Footprint and Digital Profile: When and where should we be teaching students about their digital footprint?

Students should always be aware that what they view on and what they post up on the World Wide Web can be traced. As soon as students are introduced to the Internet, they should simultaneously learn about their digital footprint. It has to be presented in the right way though because it is quite an abstract concept for the little ones. I could see my students confusing it with the Carbon Footprint, and thinking that digital footprints somehow relates to the environment. It would make for an interesting lesson to discuss and compare the natural environment we live in and the digital environment that is all around us.