Internet Safety Reflection

1. I read "Sanctify Yourselves" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

2. I watched the following videos:
*Netsmartz - 2 videos - "Tracking Teresa" and "Angela's Experience"
*iKeepSafe Faux Paws - BYU Animation video
*Frontline PBS Documentary - 2 videos - "A Revolution in Classrooms and Social Life" and "A Child Predator Fear"
*WebWiseKids - "Katie's Story"
and I registered for iSAFE as an educator.

3. I had several important "take-aways" from the readings and videos. Some of these were spiritual and helped me to see the issue of internet safety in the eternal scheme of things while others brought me down-to-earth to the temporal "nitty-gritty" of internet safety. I was reminded that Satan, in his efforts to bring us down, understandably shoots to attack the very heart of the Plan of Happiness - the family, and that he is often very tricky in doing so, using media to make morality appear out-dated and out of touch with reality. I was strengthened in my understanding that the Lord needs us to remain morally clean because He has a great work for us to do and a great destiny for us to become. As a future parent and teacher, I learned that it is important to teach the dangers of the internet and a desire to remain pure through presiding, providing, protecting, and nurturing. I also learned that it is important to not only protect from the bad but also to show kids the good that can come from using the internet safely. I was surprised to discover how easily internet predators can discover personal information about a person even when the person is trying to be careful, but I also discovered tools for dealing with the dangers of the internet such as teaching kids to tell parents when they encounter pornography, even accidentally, in order to establish a firm base of open communication. I believe it is important for parents and teachers to establish boundaries and to teach their children about the dangers, but that it is impossible for adults to micro-manage every media aspect of a child's life and that children need to be instilled with a personal desire to protect themselves.

4. I decided to talk to my mom about internet safety, since she still has my five-year-old little sister and sixteen-year-old little brother at home. When I asked her what she already knew about the topic she mentioned that she had heard about webcams being used for pornography and internet predators pretending to be children in order to lure kids in. My mom's reaction to what I told her about internet safety was to be interested in resources she could use to teach my little sister to be safe online. I told her about iSAFE's programs and she asked that I send her the link to that website. She thought that if it was possible for a child to get certified in internet safety, this could be very empowering for them. What surprised me about her reaction was that when I told her about how easy it can be for online predators to track down personal information about an individual she brought up the scary thought that people such as secretaries in schools or doctors' offices could to the same thing. I sent my mom links to http://ilearn.isafe.org/ , http://www.netsmartzkids.org/indexFL.htm , and http://www.ikeepsafe.org/iksc_kids/ .
I think what she will do with this is check it out, talk to Mary about internet safety, and perhaps introduce her to some of these resources.

Week 14 PLE

I completed the first 3 items on the PLE assignment.

TPACK Project - Planning

Here are the links to my lesson plans:

Science lesson plan

Language Arts lesson plan

Mathematics lesson plan

Week 11 PLE

I watched the following two movies:

Bookends of War

Inside Kapunahala

The main thing I noticed about the children's feelings and reactions in using technology in the classroom was that they seemed very involved and active in the process - more than in a lot of other types of assignments, they seemed to be proud of their work and to really take ownership of it. I think part of the reason for this is that they see it as worthwhile and part of the "real world." Using technology also keeps them interested and gives them multiple modes to learn through (visual, auditory, dynamic, etc.) They seem excited about what they are doing and more knowledgeable and confident in their content knowledge than the average student. Even the young kids are excited to play their unique part in the technological project! It's fun and creative and it belongs to them. And while they are enjoying themselves, they are also learning to collaborate and to help one another!

Week 10

The most important thing I learned from the videos this week is that technology can have tons of benefits when used in a classroom with even very young students. This is especially true when it is used for legitimate purposes that apply to real life. Technology can be used to enrich content learning AND to teach students how to find answers to questions they encounter in real life. It also seems to fit really well with the important concepts of integration and inquiry learning. Technology can also be a very exciting tool for students to use and for parents to see the results of their children's work with. Furthermore, using technology in the classroom naturally leads to lessons on other important topics such as copyright laws, is especially helpful for those who don't have computers at home, and helps to prepare all students for life in this modern technological world!

I interviewed a 2nd grade teacher. I was surprised to find out how many technologies she has available to her in the classroom. The classroom contains a computer (PC), a stereo, an overhead projector, a TV, a VCR, and a DVD player. Just a few days ago it also had installed a new projector that is attached to the ceiling. Soon they will be getting a camera that magnifies objects and projects them onto the wall.

The teacher I talked with said she very much looks forward to getting the camera and that she always wanted a new projector so that is exciting. She also said that if she had a bigger classroom she would wish to have a mini-computer lab for the students to play math games, type up their stories, etc.

I asked the teacher if the school she teaches at has other technologies available outside of the classroom. She told me about the 2 computer labs in the school. Each lab has about 30 computers and the second graders visit one of the labs once a week. Perhaps 3 times a year they also have the opportunity to do research online.

I also asked the teacher how often she uses the technologies in her classroom and she said she uses the TV 3-4 times a month, and the old overhead projector once a month, but will probably use the new overhead projector much more often, perhaps 3 times a week. The students also frequently listen to music on the stereo, including a character building program that has catchy songs to teach the kids to be nice and to take care of themselves. The teacher also uses the computer and the internet herself every day to help in planning lessons.


I completed parts 1 and 2 of the PLE assignment.