We Need Your Help
Mobile devices are finding their way into schools, and your school district has decided to embrace Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT). While you admit that technology is valuable tool, schools and teachers have other priorities (e.g. doing well on the high stakes test that will be administered to every student). As such, you are worried about how administrators, teachers and students are going to reconcile the latest technology--not to mention digital citizenship--with what needs to be accomplished. You need to get a mental picture on how other educators, state and federal mandates are approaching this issue in school settings so you can prepare your District.
You'll be guided to look closely at three main issues and to find examples (facts, statistics, quotations, or any other inputs) that you think provide important insights on the issues. After you've collected three examples for each issue, your job will be to put the information together into one statement that shares your understanding as a "Truth" about that particular key issue related to digital citizenship and social media. Finally, you will combine what you've learned into an action plan.
Exploring Examples to Discover the Truth - Individual Activity
Issue #1 - How have perceptions changed about learning and technology?
Visit each web site, then copy-n-paste or write a 1 sentence take-away--an "infobit" on your Concept Builder Notes page.
Issue #2 - How is teaching and learning happening in schools today?
Visit each web site, then copy-n-paste or write a 1 sentence take-away--an "infobit" on your Concept Builder Notes page.
Issue #3 - How have others approach the blending of technology, curriculum to better facilitate learning for K-12 and adult learners?
Visit each web site, then copy-n-paste or write a 1 sentence take-away--an "infobit" on your Concept Builder Notes page.
Focusing your Argument: An Action Plan - Small Group Activity
By looking at the Digital Citizenship and Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) from the perspective of a curriculum specialist, you have become an expert on the issues. Your team (and the World Wide Web community) need your expert advice. In your opinion, what would be the most effective plan of action to address digital citizenship in schools? In other words, what do we need to do to "make it happen?" Use the truths you have learned to make sure we tap into goldmines that could help everyone and avoid landmines that could threaten us all.
Your Action Plan should be a clear statement about what needs to be done next and why. It does not have to be long, but it should be thoughtful.
After you've developed a draft statement from your perspective, work with your team to prepare a clearly worded Action Plan statement to share with the whole group.