We're using different types of technologies everyday, and many of us heavily depend on those technologies to survive. Have you ever think of the influences of technologies on our behaviors, mindsets, or emotions? Work with your group members to discover different aspects of technology and its influences on education.

Share all the resources that your group found on the Padlet Wall and be ready to share your discussion with the whole class.

Topic#1 - Cyber Security

Despite the overwhelming pressure educators feel to move toward technological integration, many find themselves unsure how best to help students navigate safely through the cyber world. In fact, a 2011 study conducted by the National Cyber Security Alliance found that when asked what cyber security related topics they had taught their students in the past year, 50% of teachers answered “none.” Discuss the following questions with your group members and think about how can we help teachers to educate their students about cyber security.

• What is cyber security? Can you provide some examples?
• Why is it important?
• Do you know who is tracking your clicks on the Internet? What kind of data were collected when you're using the Internet?
• How do you know if someone hacked your computer/accounts/cloud storage? What should you do after the hack?
• What are some of the typical Internet scams? How to avoid them?
• How to teach students to protect themselves on the Internet? Can you provide some specific suggestions?

Topic#2 - Social Networks

Social networks can display personal information that is easily accessible by anyone. But children and teens may not aware of the risk associates with what they are sharing on the social media. Read the story here. Moreover, social medias blurred the boundaries of students' school lives and personal lives, and sometimes can cause chaos. Teachers should raise their students' awareness about what they're sharing on the social media, but many teachers are struggling because no structured plans are provided. Discuss the following questions with your group members and think about how can we help teachers to educate their students about social networks.

• Who are using social media?
• Who have access to the content that you share on your social media?
• What kind of information on the social media could reveal your personal information?
• How to teach students to protect themselves on the social media? Can you provide some specific suggestions?
• Do you know what is cyberbullying? Can you provide some examples?
• Is cyberbulling illegal in the U.S.?
• How can teachers or parents identify or prevent cyberbullying?

Topic#3 - Source Credibility

Julie Coiro, associate professor of education at the University of Rhode Island, wrote in an Edutopia blog post that middle schoolers tend to focus more on relevance than credibility. Author and publication type are of limited importance to students, and if they do examine these elements, they can’t explain why they chose certain websites. Coiro also observed similar issues among high school and college students. Teachers are struggling to find a good way to help students to differentiate the credibility and reliability of different sources. Discuss the following questions with your group members and think about how can we help teachers to educate their students about source credibility.

• What are fake news?
• Why there're fake news on the Internet?
• How do you normally find information online?
• How do you know if the source is reliable or not? Can you provide some examples?
• Why it is important for students to develop skills of evaluating online materials?
• Do you know what is confirmation bias? Can you provide some examples?
• Can we avoid confirmation bias?
• How can teachers educate students to evaluate source credibility? Can you provide some specific suggestions?

Topic#4 - Mobile Devices

Mobile devices as teaching tools are becoming a more and more common part of the American education experience in classrooms, from preschool through graduate school. In 2001, Marc Prensky stated, "Our students have changed radically. Today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach." He went on to describe how these "digital natives" are being exposed to more gadgets and technology than was ever thought possible. This is having a profound effect on the ways in which children learn. They are more engaged in learning when using the latest technological gadgets, because it is what they are most used to interacting with. However, many teachers and parents are having doubts on using mobile devices in the classrooms. Discuss the following questions with your group members and provide your perspectives on using mobile devices in the classroom.

• What types of mobile devices teachers normally use in the classrooms?
• When you were in K-12 schools, did your teachers allow you to use any mobile devices? Do you know why or why not?
• Do you agree with Marc Prensky? Why or why not?
• Can you find any reliable sources to support the use of mobile devices in the classrooms?
• Can you find any reliable sources to against the use of mobile devices in the classrooms?
• Can you provide some specific suggestions to teachers who are debating if they should use mobile devices in the classrooms?

Websites that are helpful:

• Safe YouTube - Clean out inappropriate ads in YouTube.
• PBS Frontline 2014 Generation Like - A documentary video shows how social media influences teens' behaviors and mindsets.
• Tools to help you figure out who's tracking what
  • Ghostery
  • HTTP Everywhere
  • Privacy Badger
• Microsoft - Digiduck's Big Decision - A picture book for young kids
• Microsoft - Let’s talk online safety with kids
• NetCetera - Chatting with Kids About Being Online
• The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) - Rethink Cyber Safety Rules and the “Tech Talk” with Your Teens
• NCSA - Data Privacy Day

What strategies that we can use in the classroom to make learning meaningful?

Keep in mind of all the topics that we've discussed about technology and meaningful learning, we're moving to the Digital Natives project.