Educational Technology Bill of Rights for Students
At some point I found this post byCindy Danner-Kuhn. She had posted about the Educational Technology Bill of Rights for Students. The Educational Technology Bill of Rights for Students post was first made by School Technology Solutions. I read it and it was just one of those WOW moments. After trying to figure out my own feelings about some of the points on the list I thought about this class and want to know what YOU think about the post. I come from a time where we did not have computers in classrooms, only in the lab, and an overhead and VCR were fancy. I did not even have an email address until my senior year of high school. Read the link below and tell me what you think. This post is now a few years old is there anything missing?
Educational Technology Bill of Rights for Students
48 Comments
Keeyon L. Howard
9/8/2014 01:57:10 am
This was a pretty good read. I understand the student's views on technology and also on wanting teachers to be able to teach students from up-to-date technology resources. However I do feel that with some of his points there are fine lines that could possibly be crossed which could possibly serve as a detriment to certain situations instead of benefits.
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Danell
9/8/2014 08:29:46 am
I agree with you about limiting to a certain age group. As I read this, I thought it was a very great read looking through the perspective of the students. However, thinking about my 3rd graders bring their ipad etc to school it worried me what they would really be doing during the 'free' time I would allow them. I also think that it would be very upsetting to other students in my class that couldn't afford the new up to date technology.
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Tim Dickens
9/10/2014 09:16:37 am
As a high school teacher I agree with you about what they are doing on the internet during school it has to be monitored many students today simply have no filters and feel that is alright to look at anything they want at anytime. We as teachers have to try and educate them on what is alright or not alright I believe that is one of the most important things about being a teacher
Conner White
9/14/2014 01:34:03 pm
I agree that in a school setting where students are extremely self conscience, others bringing there tech from home would make students think less of themselves. Also, limiting it to an age group would be the best thing. Some age groups are not mature enough to be given technology to do class work.
Aaron Shockley
9/12/2014 12:54:12 am
I would agree that in some student would not be able to afford some of the technology that is used in the class room. More schools now, however, are purchasing these technologies for the students at a young age that they can use for their whole time in elementary, junior, or high school years. I do think the wifi should monitor what the student is doing so that if they are doing things that distract from their studies the teacher can stop it right away.
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william
9/14/2014 07:55:51 am
Great write Keeyon. Yes, I agree that with the usage of own personal tech in the classroom would cause a rise in problems among students. Today in the classroom a problem on the rise is cyber bullying due to the high increase in classroom tech. This causes crazy tech policies in classrooms to help protect the students but it still happens. If we teach the proper ways how to use technology in the classroom and what it is meant for then maybe we could see lower rates of technology misconduct.
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Jess Brink
9/14/2014 10:17:22 am
You made some really great points! There are so many uses - but those uses can be abused and the ability to use your own technology may create insecurities... It's hard to weigh those pros and cons!
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Becky Windsor
9/14/2014 11:52:25 am
Keeyon, you made some good points. Students need to be able to use their own technology in the classrooms as long as there are safe guards in place and policies to help protect students. Cyber bullying is growing all of the time. It is eventually up to the students to make correct choices in how they act while using technology. We as teachers can teach them how to protect themselves on the internet and how to prevent cyber bullying. Certain sites can be blocked, but not every site where bullying can occur can be blocked. It comes down to educating students and hoping they make proper choices.
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Johnna Goucher
9/8/2014 04:28:39 am
Wow! This was interesting. I cannot say that I completely agree with the students rights listed. "I have the right to use my own technology at school" I believe this is wonderful that students have their own technology to use at school, but what happens if it is lost or damaged who takes responsibility? The school or student? "I have the right to access social media at school" I do not agree with the use of social media at school. What important information could you possibly need to share on social media during the school day? "I have the right to be taught by teachers who know how to manage the use technology in their classrooms" I do agree that students should be taught by teachers who understand how to use technology. It is very frustrating setting in a class waiting for the teacher to figure out the smart board or computer when the student knows exactly how to work it. This is taking away valuable class time. I think it is in a schools best interest to send their teachers to technology classes to keep them current on new programs and trends. We are teaching in a new century and need to ensure we are preparing our students to live in it.
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Rebecca Hartman
9/9/2014 11:34:17 am
The question of who would take responsibility if a student's technology was lost or damaged is an important one, and I believe that this issue is why students should leave their technology at home. Another problem can also stem from this: many students lack the funds to purchase the same technology as others. Some students may have iPads and iPhones which can be used for educational purposes, but many students are stuck with shared laptop computers (or even desktops), and they would either feel left out or have to use the older technology of the schools.
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Katie
9/10/2014 12:42:26 am
I think you pose a great questions of who is resposible for the technology if it is brought to school. One of the schools I worked at a few years ago received a grant that allowed them to invest in rolling computer labs. These labs were shared between the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes. The computers were checked out by each student for a 50 minute period each day. There was a computer program on each of these that allowed the teacher to view exactly what each child was doing on their computers. By setting up these labs the students were not providing their own computers, the parents didn't have to worry about buying the computers, and the students were being monitored the entire time.
Jess Brink
9/14/2014 10:19:53 am
I can see the benefit of being able to use apical media... Just like we use it in our class - we can use it to stay informed and ask questions of our peers. I know that there are ways that social media can be used for the wrong purpose - but there is good in it!
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Danell
9/8/2014 08:44:48 am
I found this article very interesting. As I read through this I tried to imagine myself in high school. I can remember a teacher telling me not to use Wikipedia, however, I still used it and even saw her use it on occasions. The one point that really hit home for me during this read is, I have the right to be taught by teachers who know how to manage the technology in their classroom. I know that there are websites and technology that I could use better in my classroom. Since this class I have really been reaching out to different PLN to not only educate myself at what resources are available to me for free, too. I have been use DOJO in my classroom for the last few weeks for a classroom behavioral management and it is amazing! Even the parents can make their own portal and communicate back and forth! This has been super beneficial in my classroom.
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Katie
9/9/2014 08:00:02 am
I completely agree that teachers should read this article. As I stated in my post it is a huge disservice to students if they are not being taught with the proper technology. I have worked with students from several rural areas and the technology they were use to working with was at least 10 years old. In todays classroom most students have been exposed to some form of new technology. I think it is up to the educators to provide the students the most proper way to utilize these forms. I absolutely love your idea on getting the parents involved as well. It seems to go so much better when the parents have an understanding of what is actually taking place in the classroom.
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Terri Dodson
9/17/2014 11:06:57 am
I will have to disagree that kids hardly know how to use computers. I don't know what grade that you teach, but in our school, the students are on the computers from kindergarten on. They have regular day in the computer lab and are on the computers in the class. I teach middle school and those students are very computer literate. Technology is part of their everyday lives, in and out of school, and we, as teachers, have to keep up and utilize that technology in the best way possible and keep the students engaged.
Katie
9/9/2014 07:50:13 am
This article was an extremely good read. I found myself personally struggling with some of the points being presented. I feel that technology in the classroom is a wonderful thing however, I also feel it should be limited. My strongest feeling came from the section that says I have the right to view social media in the classroom. Social media in the classroom opens up the opportunity for students to not be safe online. I think that if social media is going to appear in the classroom it should be an group activity. One of my favorite pieces in the section said I have the right to be taught 21st Century technology. Coming from the Adult Education and Literacy side of things I have seen huge leaps in technology. The entire HiSet exam is computer based in the state of Missouri. At my previous job I had to get these low skilled individuals not only prepared for the HiSet exam but for the way the materials were going to be presented. I also firmly believe that before an educator is allowed to present information in a technological form they have to be well educated with the form of technology as well. I have to admit that I personally struggled with the thought of creating a Twitter account as part of my homework! :) Technology in the right hands can be a wonderful thing and I do believe that in this day in time teaching the most up to date technology is the best way to serve students. I feel that not exposing students to technology is a huge disservice and isn't really preparing them for the world that awaits them outside of the educational realm.
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Rebecca Hartman
9/9/2014 11:37:54 am
I 100% agree that not exposing students to technology puts them at a disadvantage. Technology is something that's going to keep getting better and it is included in more career fields then not. Not to mention the use of technology in colleges and universities. Going into college, a student is expected to know how to work at least Word and Powerpoint, but now with the addition of more online classes and hybrid classes, students are expected to know enough about the internet and are expected to know enough to navigate sometimes confusing websites and to troubleshoot problems with the technology they have so they can turn in assignments or respond to messages. These are things that should be taught in high schools at some point.
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Danell
9/9/2014 12:05:06 pm
I would be too scared to allow my students to get on social media during my time because I feel as though this would open a door leading the teacher to a law suit. I agree with you about having up to date technology. I have subbed in schools that don't have many computers for students use that aren't 10 years plus old.
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Conner White
9/14/2014 01:39:12 pm
I agree that up to date use of technology is important. Many high paying jobs today require the use of current techware. I also agree that social media can lead to more problems such as cyber bullying and fighting in school.
Nicketa Coombs
9/9/2014 02:01:25 pm
I agree with your points especially about it being used but limited. 'Too much of anything is never good'. I get distracted so easily and I can imagine how kids struggle to pay attention and introducing all these gadgets and technology will probably be more harmful than helpful in most situations.
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Katie Damgar
9/12/2014 01:45:21 pm
I completely agree that the use of social media should be monitored or limited in the high school setting. If students are allowed full access to social media during school hours some, if not most, of the students would abuse the privilege. This could lead to students paying more attention to their phones instead of the teachers which would make classroom management more difficult.
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Rebecca Hartman
9/9/2014 11:31:11 am
There are many things that I agree with in this list. Technology is being increasingly important in the workforce, and students in high schools should have the opportunity to learn about new technologies and to find new ways to use technology for their benefit. There should be certain areas of the school where cell phones and social media are allowed to be used--for example, in the lunch room. In my undergrad classes, I saw so many students getting away with texting during class, and this is something that should not be allowed in a college or even a high school setting. I agree that Wikipedia can be used as a great resource, but only if teachers in high school teach their students how to correctly use it and how to verify the sources used in the articles. Technology is going to keep being a bigger and bigger part in everyone's lives, so it would be unwise to keep it out of or limit it in schools.
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Danell
9/9/2014 11:51:45 pm
I really like your idea on how cell phones should be used in the lunch room etc. This could cut down how much the students try to text in class. I agree that cell phones shouldn't be used in class this causes distractions to other students, the student using their cell phone, and could even distract the teacher/professor from the lesson. I have always been a strong believer in Wikipedia, if it is properly used. I think it's a great resource, but I also think that students should follow up on information they may think is faulty.
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Terri Dodson
9/17/2014 11:10:15 am
I totally agree with you about Wikipedia. I like Wikipedia and have encouraged my students to use it, but I have also taught them how to question things in it that don't make sense. If taught how to use it correctly, I think that Wikipedia is a wonderful resource.
Kiefer Smith
9/14/2014 07:53:18 am
It would be unwise to keep technology limited in schools and in college classes. I have also seen many college students using their phones during school. My idea about that is that they are spending their money to go to that class and if they want to waste that money not paying attention then so be it. In high school there should be no electronics out while class is in progress unless the class allows it for an assignment. Technology is becoming huge in our lives and we do need to adapt to it and use it wisely.
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Becky Windsor
9/9/2014 11:33:19 am
The list in the reading really makes me realize the importance of technology in the classroom and where the students are coming from. It is true that a lot of students have their own devices such as iphones and iPads. Why not incorporate their devices into our lessons. One important way to keep students engaged in learning is to use teaching resources which are meaningful to them. Technology is growing by leaps and bounds, and we as teachers need to embrace and learn along with the students. I read an article in one of my grad courses about a school in New York where the Principal got laptops for every student and they began using Google Docs and and other programs. Before using their new technology the school had a very low percent of students passing mathematics, around 10%. By the time students were assessed at the end of the school year after using the laptops and new technology, the scores had increased to 60%. I believe students would benefit greatly by using their own devices in schools. There are concerns too. There would have to be a way to monitor proper use of these devices. There would be some students who would try to use their devices for things other than school work. As a teacher, I know I have a lot to learn about using more technology in the classroom. I do need to remember that I can ask my students for help using some of these applications because a lot of children know more about technology than many adults! If teachers, schools, and students can meet in the middle and use technology in ways that will the lessons taught in the classroom, there would be much more academic success for students!
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Nicketa Coombs
9/9/2014 01:45:28 pm
I agree that incorporating the use of their own devices is a great way to get them involved. However it is just as important to make sure that those without don't feel left out. I think everything listed can be just as helpful as it may be harmful without effective use. Sometimes introducing too much can be a major distraction but it can also excite the students making them much more interested in the subject.
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Becky Windsor
9/10/2014 03:43:14 am
I agree with you Nicketa. I meant to address the topic of students who may not have their own devices. That is a very important area that needs to be addressed if/when teachers have students use their own technology in class. The school would need to make sure there are some extra iPads students could check out, or students could possibly be paired with a student who has a phone to work on a class project or assignment. You made a great point on how the teacher introduces these tools and using them so they are the most effective is important. We definitely want to engage the students without introducing too much at one time!
Danell
9/9/2014 11:55:01 pm
I really enjoyed reading this and agree with you. I remember my first year teaching I had reviewed a little using the SMARTBoard and I did ask the kiddos how to use it. I quickly created a technology job for my classroom job chart that I changed everyday. This was helpful to me and also got the students to be involved in helping me! Great ideas!
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Nicketa Coombs
9/9/2014 01:37:13 pm
I really enjoyed reading this article and could relate to both sides of the argument however I don't agree with majority of the article. As a fellow student I can see how many of the 'rights' listed can be classified as 'wrongs'. These would possibly be more harmful than helpful and the last thing students need is another distraction; they have enough as is.
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Keeyon Howard
9/9/2014 10:42:23 pm
I agree with you Nicketa. I don't agree with all the points made in the article although I do agree with a few as you pointed out such as WiFi and being brought up to speed on the use of current technology. I think the view of the student writing these rights were from a more narrow vantage point instead of a broad vantage point as they mentioned the use of personal technology. But as you stated, they all could be great if monitored correctly. Great response Nicketa!!
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Tim Dickens
9/10/2014 09:09:57 am
I agree with you Nicketa on embracing technology. I like to think that I am pretty savvy when it comes to technology but I do still learn things from my students everyday.
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Kiefer Smith
9/14/2014 07:43:50 am
I think we have some of the same ideas and opinions about this article. Students do not need another distraction in school. The students I have get distracted easy enough without them using any type of technology in the class. I also agree with what you said about them needing to be in a technology class that is more of a safety technology class. This would be a great idea for schools to start picking up and teaching them to their students.
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Becky Windsor
9/14/2014 11:55:51 am
Nicketa, I agree with you about students needing to understand about credibility of information found on some social sites such as Wikipedia. I teach 6th grade and many kids at this age do not think about things like credibility. They simply get onto the internet and get information without questioning sources. I agree that the things listed in the article can be helpful but should be used with close guidance of teachers!
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Katie Damgar
9/10/2014 01:34:55 am
This article is very interesting. There are some rights I agree with and others I do not. I do believe that students should be a taught be teachers that are able to use technology. Teachers need to be able to incorporate some kind of technology in the classroom because it is becoming so important in our lives. I also agree that feedback is important and students should be allowed to see feedback as soon as possible. However, there are some rights I do not agree with. Students should be allowed to use technology, but not all students can afford it and are not willing to work for it. This will lead to a division between students abilities. The Wikipedia right seems kind of silly as well. When I am doing research I will use Wikipedia as a background resource. I will use the source for background knowledge about my topic, but I will find credible sources to back up the findings on Wikipedia. Overall, this article was very interesting and gave me some insight on what students want as far as technology in schools. Some of the rights are understandable, but others are a little ridiculous and students can do without them.
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Brian Calhoun
9/12/2014 09:10:12 am
It is very true that teachers need to prepare their students for how technology will affect them in everyday life. I remember when I was in high school the one teacher that made us turn in homework online said this is how it will be done in 5 years. He was right, since getting to college I turn in homework, papers, and tests online most of the time. Turning things in online also leads to instant feedback.
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william
9/14/2014 07:48:22 am
I agree with your statement. With technology being such an important tool in our lives we need to find better ways to incorporate it in our classrooms without to many stipulations on usage. Yes, Wikipedia right is silly but it can be used as a good back round source to lead a student to great sources. For not all of it is bad you just need to know how to use it correctly.
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Kiefer Smith
9/10/2014 04:03:11 am
This is an interesting article. I am guilty of not allowing technology in my class when it comes to phones or tablets or ipads. I feel like my students will abuse the use of them and get on different topics other than what I am talking about. Also, I do not use them because I teach in a basement and we do not get any service in my class, or any other class near me. And last the school does not have wifi set up yet for the teachers or students. They are in the process of doing so but it may take a while.
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Brian Calhoun
9/12/2014 09:01:55 am
I feel that if students were allowed time on their smart phones and tablets they would easily become distracted and zero focus would be spent on the lesson. It is good to hear that your school will soon have wifi, I wonder if it will be for teachers only or all students. I also agree that teachers need to understand the types of technology they are using and that takes passion. A teacher must put in the time to truly help his students.
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Tim Dickens
9/10/2014 09:03:19 am
I read this from the point of view of a high school teacher. Use of personal technology at school is fine in the appropriate situation for example if the class is doing research and a student wants to use his/hers tablet instead of a school laptop that is fine. A student should have access to the schools WiFi to do school related work it may be a public school but it is not a public WiFi.
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Aaron Shockley
9/12/2014 12:57:12 am
I agree that there is a time or place for everything and I agree that the student should only use social media on their time because it distracts away from the learning trying to take place in the classroom. I also agree that it should be on their own network because they schools network should be used by faculty and school related purposes.
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Aaron Shockley
9/12/2014 12:50:35 am
I thought the article was well thought out and from a teacher stand point it makes sense to use this technology to help students in the class room. I still think some of the technology available is abused and should be regulated. For example when I was in high school our teachers didn't really mind us being on facebook or twitter so long as we didn't have homework to be working on or it wasn't during a lecture. However, when it came to computer class facebook was all but outlawed in the class because it was being abused while working on assignments and listening to lectures. So I think so long as there are stipulation put on these types of technology they can be used for good.
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Keeyon
9/13/2014 12:03:10 am
Hey Shock,
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Brian Calhoun
9/12/2014 08:46:46 am
When reading through the educational technology bill of rights for students, I found myself agreeing and disagreeing with some of the points made. The article made me think about my past experiences in school, along with new challenges that teachers will have to face. It made sense to me when the article said that students should be allowed to use their own technology. I have been substituting in classrooms where the history books only go up to Bill Clinton, if this is how far behind some school are with books they most likely won't have sufficient technology. If a student has cutting edge technology they should be challeneged to use it in a productive way. This also means teachers have to stay up to date with new instructional technology. Students being able to use the school's wifi also seems like a no brainer. Students should not have to jump through hoops, or wait until they are out of school to submit an assignment. If we are not taking advantage of this tool, then whats the point of having it? Over the past few years that I have attended CMU, I have learned how to use new programs like prezi. If a student wants to express his work in another form besides powerpoint, they should be encouraged to do so. If the teacher is unfamiliar with grading new technology, they should take the opportunity as a learning experience for future classes.
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Terri Dodson
9/12/2014 11:52:55 pm
This is a spot on bill of rights. I have always believed that technology should be embraced in the classroom. Kids use this technology everyday, this is what they are used to and I believe that we should embrace it and find a way to incorporate it into the classroom. As a teacher of a historically lecture driven subject, History, I still believe that a history class based entirely on lectures is outdated. Projects that use technology, even term papers, are much more likely to keep the students engaged. This bill of rights is something that a teacher can take and build on. I also believe that the use of the technology must be monitored. I allow the students to use their smart phones for research projects and for those tho don't have them, I allow them to use mine or work with someone who has one. iPads and e readers are also used in my class. There are strict rules to adhere to and I am constantly walking among my students to make sure these rules are kept and there are consequences for breaking the rules. I have had very few students get on facebook, twitter, or instagram when we are using the phones. If the students are given the rules, they are explained to them, and the consequences are constant, the vast majority will comply. I like this bill of rights but I also have my bill of rights that my students know. This is a give and take and we, as educators, have to be able to give just as the students do. This bill of rights is a good starting point in incorporating technology into the class and allowing students to use the things that they use in their everyday lives. It is up to us to learn it and embrace it just as our students do. I think that these are fair and that students would look at them as an opportunity to bring their technology into the class.
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William Rambo
9/14/2014 07:29:17 am
I enjoyed this article for I understand from students perspective that is there technology and for them do achieve at high scholastic standards in todays day and age having the use of technology is an necessity. From an instructor's viewpoint I believe there need to be guidelines in order to access such devices like WIFI and using school computers. Students need to follow selective rules since usage is monitor by IT people this agreement between student and school IT will help keep cyber bullying at a low and learning at a high.
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Jess Brink
9/14/2014 10:15:13 am
Wow - that's such a great list! It's something that we all think, but don't know how to say! I love technology and I plan to use it as much as possible in whatever field I end up in. There is so much that you can from technology. Instant knowledge! I always loved taking online reading tests because I knew my score right away - I loved time spent in the computer lab because I was able to learn interactively. I could ask questions and those questions be answered immediately.
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Conner White
9/14/2014 01:30:51 pm
I understand where the student is coming from in this writing, but these demands can make teaching even harder. Yes students use facebook to get in contact with one another, but how many of these students will actually be using facebook in class for something constructive. I do agree that students should be able to use and be taught to use 21st century technology. Overall, it was an interesting read, but some of these demands can make things harder for teachers than they need to be.
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Class BlogThis blog is for class conversations for Ed 514 at Central Methodist University. We invite input form other teachers about how they use technology in their classrooms. Archives
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