Assignment #2: Digital Citizenship

Read and watch the following resources on digital citizenship:

Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship:

http://digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html

Connecting via Social Media:

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/ice-bucket-challenge-bellringer/

Video: Cyber Bullying:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVSAFhTjAdc

Post: Why is it important to educate young adolescents about digital citizenship.  Connect these ideas to what you know about young adolescents.  How might you engage your class in activities to promote digital citizenship?

It is important to educate young adolescents about digital citizenship because there are many consequences when it comes to using technology.  Although there are many positive uses of technology it is the negative uses like cyberbullying and trolling that often complicate and/or ruin the lives of young adolescents.  In the Digital Citizenship article teaching students about the nine themes of digital citizenship from as young as kindergarten is the recommendation.  Constantly reviewing the REP’s (Respect, Educate and Protect) concept is one way that students will learn the responsibilities and/or consequences of their actions over the internet and/or social media, especially during the confusing years of adolescence.

Adolescents are at a point in their lives when they are facing cognitive, physical and emotional changes.  Add into that mix a cup of social media “drama”, due to lack of education on digital citizenship, and you have a teenager whose whole world, as they see it, come crashing down on them.  If more educators took the time to teach students about digital citizenship, from as early as kindergarten, we could probably see a future of responsible digital citizens.

In my blended-learning classroom I used technology on a daily basis.  At the start of each quarter, we reviewed and revisited examples of ethical and unethical uses of technology.  This always kept the ethical and unethical examples in the forefront of their scopes.  The use of technology was a requirement therefore I also had students sign a contract stating that they will be ethical users of technology or they would not be allowed to use their device, or the device provided by the school.  The contract also included confiscation of the device if necessary.  The nine themes of digital citizenship would be a great addition to my contract and or quarterly reviews of ethical and unethical uses of technology.

Assignment #1: Intro + 21st Century Education

• Read http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/P21_Framework_Definitions.pdf

• Watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTIBDR4Dn2g          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yie4q8LscBs

• Blog Post
Introduce yourself and your views of 21st century education and how technology might be used in the classroom based on what you read, watched and your own experience.

Aloha mai katou! I am Jamie "Tia" Koerte from the beautiful west side of Kauai. Born and raised in sunny Kekaha on homestead lands, I am of half Niihau and half "Haole" ancestry. I graduated from UH Manoa in 2007 with a B.A. in Hawaiian Studies with an emphasis in Hawaiian Language. Since I was a young girl I knew I wanted to be an educator. It was only after graduating from Manoa that I realized I wanted to educate Hawaiian children. Growing up in the middle to low class in a small community doesn't always pose an abundance of opportunities. I was determined to make something of myself and return home to "give back" to my ohana and community who helped in shaping me into the person I am today.

Upon graduation in 2007 I was blessed with a job opportunity at my alma mater, Waimea High School, teaching Hawaiian Language. Returning to my alma mater was a dream come true - so I thought. Within the first year of teaching at WHS it was evident I didn't feel the gratification I had always imagined. The students and community had changed. Where was the "big blue" pride? In reflection, I was also not equipped to meet the 21st Century skills and needs of this new generation of students.

I have always believed things happen for a reason. In January of 2009 I became pregnant with my first son, Loea. By March 2009, only a few months since beginning my teaching career, I was told budget cuts would prevent the Hawaiian Language program from continuing. Half way through my pregnancy and no job lined up, I accepted that Ke Akua had a plan for me.

In August 2009, just two weeks before I was due to give birth, my calling came. I was offered a tutoring job at Ke Kula Niihau o Kekaha Public Charter School. Though it was only a part-time job, I jumped at the opportunity! Although Ke Kula Niihau o Kekaha was not my alma mater, I had been given the opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences with Niihau children just like myself.  

The following year I became a full-time teacher and then greeted my second son, Liloa, in February 2012. I have experienced the growing pains of a new teacher and I truly owe my success to the school, students and community for allowing me the numerous professional development and teacher leadership opportunities. Joining the MSLMED ohana has also added to the success of my career thus far.

Seeing my successes both in and out of the classroom the school offered me the role of director which, although I have much room to learn and grow, I accepted. An opportunity to make a difference at a much larger scale it is the 21st Century Skills and outcomes that I hope to instill in all students, teachers and families alike.

I am most proud of the blended learning classrooms I implemented in SY 13-14. A daily combination of lecturing (at a lesser amount), interactive notebooks and the use of ipads, iphones and laptops allowed my students to grow tremendously in that year.

Technology I used in the classroom:

-ipads, iphones, laptops

-email

-survey monkey

-microsoft office (word, powerpoint, excel)

-prezi

Although I am no longer in the classroom, I have a mission to educate and expose my teachers to as much resources as possible so that they may incorporate them into their classrooms.

Technology I currently use with staff/teachers:

-email

-poll everywhere

-microsoft office (word, powerpoint, excel)

Technology I hope to become versed in and use with all staff/teachers are:

-everything google!

-edmodo

-blogger

-I will also be showing my teachers the youtube video on "what does it mean to teach?"