Teaching+with+Technology+Week+3+Update

 = **Teaching with Technology** **Week 3 Wiki Update:** =

This week’s readings were very applicable to integration of technology. I loved how we were provided so many examples of “how” to use the Web 2.0 tools. While reading, __Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools__ by Solomon and Schrum, I particularly enjoyed a quote from a teacher, Tom Hammond, on page 88; “Otherwise, students’ use of these tools and devices will become a nuisance that is as bad or worse than cell phones.” This made me think about how important it is for teacher to educate the students on how to use these tools for good rather than evil. As educators we tend to fall into categories or banning the use of technology in the classroom or not. When we ban the use of technology for fear that students will become prey to on-line predators, we are not helping the child in the long run. Instead if we teach the students how to stay safe on-line from the time the students are young they will have the skills to keep themselves safe. At the beginning of the school year, I coordinated with teacher to begin teaching Internet Safety Skills to students as young as Kindergarten. We used a great site called NetSmartz.org. This web site has leveled activities for students from Kindergarten to High School. Using this site we were able to teach students the importance of keeping personal information safe, not to download files unless a trusted adult gives approval and much more. Teaching these types of safety measures seem to correlate with other safety topics parents present to their kids: looking both ways before crossing the street or not talking to strangers. I felt the reading in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works by Pilter, Hubbell, Kuhn and Malenoski spoke to this same idea.