Cyber-Ethics and Podcasts

I want to talk about filtering that many schools use in order to try and prevent students from the many dangers online. At my high school several websites were blocked. Many were inappropriate sites that students shouldn't be on at anytime, but others were websites that the school just didn't want students to get distracted by during class. However, this proposed some problems when working on/researching projects. I remember when we had to do a math project about baseball statistics, but I could not get onto ESPN.com or MLB.com because they were blocked. There should be some sort of system where websites can be authorized under certain circumstances so that problems like these do not occur.

As for the podcasts, I don't really find them extremely helpful for math. There is a lot of visuals and representations that need to be shown in math lessons. Therefore I find the videos much more useful for my future classroom. I believe that when students can see what is being explained they understand it better and more clearly.

Podcasts/Videos & Cyber Ethics

I like the current project of searching for relevant podcasts and videos. It is extremely important to be able to find and utilize these technological tools in the classroom. In addition to the fact that students are becoming more and more used to learning through technology, podcasts and videos can give the student a new/different way of learning something. Having a teacher always lecture in front of the class can get old real quick, so having an alternative method of conveying information is a good way to keep students engaged.

It is a shame how some people take advantage of technology. It is because of these cyber bullies that people even have to waste time coming up with cyber ethics. I don't understand why people can't just be responsible and treat others with respect.

Cyberbullying/Podcasts

I think that online protection agencies and software is only a temporary and somewhat ineffective solution to the cyberbullying problem. I agree that these methods are affective, but I wonder at what cost? There are countless times that research in the classroom is hindered as a result of these anti-bullying technologies. They are almost too effective. Also, many cyberbullies are computer hackers and firewalls and protection software are only minor setbacks in their desire to push other users around cyberspace. However, as of right now, there doesn't seem to be a software or agency that provides complete protection as well as allow full browsing capacity. I would have to agree, as a result, that I would employ the use of these tools to protect my students and family.

In terms of podcasts, I have a more solid understanding about how effective they really can be. I enjoyed searching for relevant podcasts and their applicability to lessons and classroom activities is astonishing. They can be used in so many different ways for so many different things. I am really looking forward to exploring more podcasts and their usefulness in the classroom.

Podcasts and the Internet

I think it's very important for people to know about cyberbullying and cyber-ethics. I think the Internet can be a very scary place, and a lot of children and students feel invincible and safe. I think it's important for teachers and the school to work with the community to find a reasonable compramise about how the Internet should be best utilized in school. I think that each community is going to have a different opinion and it's extremely important to feed off of the community and parents. I think the school has a responsibility to keep the students safe to the best of their ability, and Internet use should be a monitored and constructive time within the classroom lesson. In this day and age, it's foolish to say that the Internet shouldn't be allowed in the classroom, because that would only be a disadvantage to your students. I heard about a website that allows a person to create their own social network, so it's much more controlled and only specific people are allowed in, I think this could be a great tool for the classroom. If teachers created a social network that is specific to each class, therefore limiting the people who can access it to your students alone. I imagine it's something like pipeline, but to be honest I'm not entirely sure.

About the podcasts, I'm surprised by how successful I've been finding quality podcasts. There's so much information on the Internet nowadays that it's almost overwhelming. I feel like the Del.icio.us website has really helped me narrow down the quality podcasts, and it's done a nice job refining my searches. I struggle with when I would use a podcast over a videocast though, if you could incorporate an audio and visual in one thing, why wouldn't you? I like that we're researching videocasts as well. I feel that both have a very useful place in the classroom, as always if properly incorporated into the lesson plan.

Podcasts

At first, I was not sure what to think of the idea of podcasts as well as videocasts. I had never really heard of them before and was not sure what purpose they were going to serve me as a child life specialist. However, after learning more about them and beginning to search for some on the Internet, I was amazed at how many there were that I would be able to use when working with young kids. The ones I liked the most were the ones that were by kids because I think that helps the children to relate more when they are listening to something by someone more their own age instead of an adult. I have also found some good videos that will help children to prepare for an operation and hopefully feel less calm about what they are going to be going through. Showing these videos as well as listening to podcasts will be used as a distraction tool to try and keep kids from worrying too much about their procedure and have some fun while they are in the hospital.

While I was reading the articles about cyber-ethics and cyber-bullying, I thought it was interesting and sad how many issues there have been related to this topic. Sometimes I feel as though there are parents who are not aware of what all their child is doing while they are on the Internet and that is leading to some of these problems. After reading these, I think it is still a really good idea for some hospitals to have computers available for the children so they could play games or do some other activities that have been planned, but I think there needs to be some kind of regulation on the sites. I would suggest for the computer to only have access to certain sites that have been approved as appropriate for the children to be on and have some relevence to what they are going through. I think as long as there are rules set and the children are aware of what they can and cant do as well as have some kind of blocker up for certain sites one does not want a child to go to, then it should be ok.

Podcasts/Videos and Cyberbullying/ethics

Before Tuesday and today, I didn't really know much about podcasts. I had tried to figure them out before as well as had friends try to explain them to me. The problem was that I never really understood them. I feel a lot more confident about my knowledge about podcasts. I know that they are an audio file that can provide a great deal of knowledge about a subject. I can see how they can be useful in a classroom. They provide students with another way of learning about a topic. It is always nice to be able to switch up the way students are learning, plus it gives them a chance to learn from someone else instead of listening to me all the time. The same thing goes for videos. Videos can provide entertainment as well as knowledge to the students. The videos can be extremely educational and beneficial to the class, however, if the students are watching from an entertainment view, they will like the video more without realizing that they are still learning.

I was shocked to find out so much about the cyberbullying. I knew that there were bullies out there and that this type of thing did occur, however, I didn't know how bad it was. I was shocked with the statistics. I can't believe that there are so many people out there trying to bully people through the internet. It definitely makes me more careful about signing online homework. I can see how parents can get scared and nervous about their children using the internet even though they might mean well.

Podcasts/videos

After extensively researching podcasts and videocasts in class for the past couple days, I am absolutely amazed at how large the field for both resources is. The possibilities for finding a pod/video cast are endless. I think it is a great tool for all teachers to be aware and to incorporate into the classroom. Pod/video casts are especially helpful for second language teachers because it allows the students access to listening to native speakers speak the language as well as seeing the traditions and practices of the culture. On top of pod/video casting being a great tool for teachers, it is a wonderful way to stimulate the student's attention and get them interested in a topic beyond the daily reading and activities.

I feel that the internet can be a very very dangerous place for young children in our society. There are so many people out there that spend their lives trying to hack into other people's personal information. It is so important that parents are aware of their child's internet activity and that parents are educated enough on the internet to monitor their children's activities as well. I am aware that as a future teacher I am going to be responsible for protecting my student's identities on the internet and for educating my student's on the benefits yet the dangers as well of using the internet.

Podcasts and VCasts

I have really enjoyed learning about the process of podcasts and vcasts lately. They can be a lot of use in the classroom when it comes to lesson plans and just developing a visual for students. It hasn't been to hard developing a lesson idea off of the information I have found; in addition I am assuming that it isn't too difficult to find media to enhance a lesson. One thing that an educator has to be aware about is the differences in websites being restricted in some places as opposed to others. So the validity of the website you are receiving the podcast from should be of a higher standard. For example...

I have a friend who is student teaching and she made a bunch of slides using famous speeches from youtube.com. When she went to present her material before her co-op, the site was banned because it was not a legitimate site to use on school properties.

I think this poses a solution more than a problem, because then you have to pay attention to where the information is coming from and whether or not it is trustworthy.

In addition to many of the good found on the internet, it can also lead to many bad situations. On a comment about bullying...it has been taken to a new level. It seems that our systems haven't even found a good way to control bullying in the real world...so in addition we have to worry about cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying can be very dangerous because of the ability to access people. However, it is also easier to catch a predator because of the trail that person leaves behind. How do we control or diminish the problem of cyber bullying? The concepts written by Hummel discuss the no tolerance rules under being caught bullying. Though it might always be a problem, at least there are rules and regulations on how to deal with the victim to make them feel safer on the internet. However, knowledge seems to be an occurring theme in using technology. The more informed a person is about the uses and missuses...we can have a safer environment.