Educational Technology Bill of Rights for Students
About a year ago 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.
Educational Technology Bill of Rights for Students
51 Comments
Mary McGee
1/27/2013 08:58:37 pm
I loved the post regarding the Educational Bill of rights. There is so much we very seldom give pause to as we become accustomed to living with “new” technologies.
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Heather Carlton
1/28/2013 03:10:32 am
I too had never heard of Prezi, Voki, or Glogster. I'm only 24 and that already makes me feel like I'm out of the loop!
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Kayla Y.
2/1/2013 01:39:28 am
I agree about Wikipedia. I have used it in certain instances but I always try and verify my information because I know many people are not fond of it. Most of the time I have found things on there to be accurate. I know a lot of teachers recommend not using it though.
Laurel Thornton
1/29/2013 05:46:30 am
Mary; I love the point you made about your son with Asperger's using the keyboard in school. I hate to think that I may be limiting kids by not being the most technologically savy teacher I could be. I know that my students have such a huge variety of skills and strengths, it's hard to know when or how I might be shutting that off. Thanks for the reminder to keep an open mind when it comes to these things.
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Melissa Lovette
1/30/2013 08:57:36 am
In the case where your son needed techonolgy for educational purposes in order to succeed and was denied that privilege is ridiculous. It's sad he had to wait until high school to get that privilege!
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Mary McGee
1/31/2013 11:30:32 am
It is sad it was a catholic school and the principle was terrible.
Cassandra Nappier
1/30/2013 12:38:52 pm
Mary,
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Mary McGee
1/31/2013 11:31:48 am
Your teacher made you type it out, just to prove you had it better than you, I can't even imagine how frustrating that would have been. I am going to look into prezi.
Colie Trawick
1/31/2013 05:30:51 am
I agree that you should have access to the internet at your college. By that age and that time in your life you shouldnt have to be monitored anymore. I do not agree that kids should have unlimited access to wifi in elementary, middle or H.S.
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Mary McGee
1/31/2013 11:33:44 am
Colie I understand your thoughts about elementary and middle school but with HS becoming more and more technology involved, for example a HS in our area is using Ipad's as text books its a need. It scares me that they have access at all times but it seems to be pretty well monitored they are unable to access all websites.
Crissina Kemp
2/1/2013 08:57:12 am
Mary - Thank you for sharing your experience with your son on number 2. When I read the bill of rights and posted my blog, I didn't think if it from the perspective of a special needs students, and learning how it helped your son's grades really enlightened and broadened my thinking in regards to letting students bring their own technology to use at school and help them learn. I too remember being in school with little to no technology. I took typing in a class full of non-eletronic keyboards when when you had to use correction tape to fix everything! We've really come a long way in using technology to teach!
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Heather Carlton
1/28/2013 03:07:46 am
I agree with some items on that list, while I feel that others crossed the line. But this post definitely gets you thinking!
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Zech Bowman
1/28/2013 05:37:07 am
As my post shows I completely agree with you. I love what you said about #6 too. I do try to get my tests and quizzes graded as soon as possible, because I want my students to know what they did and did not get and give me a chance to make sure we have the issues fixed before we move on. But if they don't get it back soon, then they need to understand that we have lives too and sometimes you don't get the feedback as quickly as possible. I know it was nerve racking for me when I took the paper based Praxis because it took about a month before I could know how I did.
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Laurel Thornton
1/29/2013 05:35:20 am
I completely agree with your point number 2. Students should be able to use Wifi, but not unlimitedly. There is a time and a place, and the argument that they are able to use it at McDonald's doesn't really stand. When they're at McDonald's, like when they are at home, their time is not structured. They don't have a task to be completed. They are free to do as they wish. There are moments like this at school, but much of the time they have expectations placed on them, and getting on Wifi is counterproductive.
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Caleb Haynes
1/30/2013 09:30:12 am
I agree that social media could be alright in some instances in an actual technology class, but other than that I don't think it should be allowed
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Wendy Walker
1/31/2013 02:04:42 am
I am with many others that social media should not be used in school. If a teacher knows that every student has access to twitter and wants to post assignments that way, it may be okay. But I know that not every student has access to it. There are too many kids who hardly get enough to eat at home, more less have technology available. They should be taught how to use it in a technology class, yes. But it should not be allowed during the school day.
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Colie Trawick
1/31/2013 05:24:06 am
My thought process about this blog is very similar to yours. I agree with some things and disagree with some things as well. It get you thinking because to know teachers out there feel this way is amazing to me. It is already hard controlling students with the little restrictions they have now, let alone giving them even less restrictions. It just doesnt prepare them for life. There are going to be a lot of restrictions due to race, gender, sexuality, experience/non-experience, conduct, speech etc... we need to prepare them for those things and we won't be if we allowed this bill of rights.
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Armegis Spearman
1/31/2013 05:57:54 am
I also think the issue of owning and being able to use technology in the school is feasible. The problem with learning to cheat and new ways of doing it using techno gadgets will be a problem. The fact that #5 has to become part of the teaching curriculum is becoming a intrigal part of learning society today.
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Mary McGee
1/31/2013 11:35:37 am
I agree with the use of social media at school, and I do agree that children need to be monitored. If left unmonitored it is likely they will get very little out of their educational program, and chose to "play" all day long.
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Heather Carlton
2/2/2013 10:32:09 am
And if teachers were expected to monitor students on technology all day, every day -- how much would that cut into their teaching?
Crissina Kemp
2/1/2013 09:06:28 am
I too thought the bill of rights was very thought provoking and allowed us to think about technology form a student's perspective. I think they should be call "wishes" or "suggestions" rather than student rights. I think some of these rights should be given as long as they are not abused, but would also add a lot of time needed to manage the technology that teachers already don't have. I work at a community college and some students have begun bringing laptops to class which is fine if they are using them to take notes or enhance their learning, but a lot of times we hear complaints from instructors that students are using them to do homework for other classes or to access social media such as Facebook which disrupts the class learning environment. I also agree that educators need to be more trained and brought up to speed on technology that is relevant to teaching in their class and providing skills students will need in the future.
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Zech Bowman
1/28/2013 05:28:55 am
As a teacher and coach, I get really antzy when I hear or read something about students "rights". There are some things in that post that I certainly agree with and some things.. well let's just say we'll agree to disagree.
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Heather Carlton
1/30/2013 12:41:07 am
I agree that there is a time and place for technology. I think some students are convinced they can't survive without technology in this day and age, because outside of school, they are either on their phones, computers, ipads, watching tv, etc. And honestly, students rely so much on technology outside of the classroom, a break from technology during school hours is probably a good thing.
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Melissa Lovette
1/30/2013 09:08:14 am
Yes, I agree with the Wikipedia comment because I think students feel like we as teachers are being too strict when it comes to setting guidelines for papers. However, like I stated in my comment it is not to punish them, however just to get them to find reliable resources. That's also part of conducting research as well as writing a good paper. It's not any different than "preaching" against plagiarism. You want to guide students in the right direction when assigning any type of paper or research topic. If they go to college they will have the same expectations from instructors.
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Wendy Walker
1/31/2013 02:08:45 am
I too agree that wikipedia should not be allowed as a resource. I would readily allow students to use ipads and android tablets in the classroom if it is for work. Hand-written assignments should still be handwritten. But overall, I think the technology knowledge in students is far greater than that of teachers. They should be allowed to use it, with guidelines.
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Colie
1/31/2013 05:46:57 am
I honestly believe that if the title didn't say "rights" but privledges or something different, I may have viewed this blog slightly different.
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Mary McGee
1/31/2013 11:38:31 am
I do agree it does seem to be a list of demands and I worry about our generation being self entitled but I too will wait for a different day for that discussion.
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Troy Holbrook
2/2/2013 09:15:03 am
Zech,
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Melissa Lovette
1/28/2013 08:36:40 am
Wow! Parts of this Educational Technology Bill of Rights made my blood boil, however there were a few valid points. I completetly understand everyone has "rights" and I try to see all view points fairly. There is a time and place for technology and it has some wonderful and powerful uses in the field of education. But as with anything it must be used wisely.
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Caleb
1/30/2013 09:28:51 am
On number 4 I definitely agree with you that it should not be able to be used as a source, but I feel that we as educators should tell our students its not a bad starting point to get ideas for other sources that are possibly reliable.
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Troy Holbrook
1/30/2013 01:41:23 pm
Melissa,
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Dane Frazier
2/2/2013 01:49:25 pm
I would have to say I disagree with #5
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Laurel Thornton
1/29/2013 05:29:07 am
This is really interesting. Many of these points forced me to look at issues from fresh perspective. I'm not sure I agreed with all of them, however. It seemed as if lots of these points were oversimplified.
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Heather Carlton
1/30/2013 01:01:30 am
Laurel, do you find students abusing the right to use their own technology? And what action is set in place to discipline them if so? Just curious!
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Cassandra Nappier
1/30/2013 12:49:44 pm
Laurel,
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Armegis Spearman
1/31/2013 05:51:49 am
I agree that students should be able to use technology for reading purposes and educational purposes, if they have it. The struggles over social media is and will be an ongoing struggle that will have to be dealt with at some point in the near future, if not already addressed at some schools. The use of social media has no business being in any part of school and education..It will be hard to protect a kid from cyber-bullying if he/she is allowed to enteract with the bully or give them the opportunity by allowing it into the school.
Mary McGee
1/31/2013 11:42:24 am
I never thought about encouraging reading through the use of a kindle, but that is a great thought, now I may purchase one for my youngest son, he is so tec. driven it would be a good incentive for him. I fully agree with face time with students, and must be cautious as we as as teachers can get caught up in the tech. bug. I find myself using email and IM much more than the phone and when I think about it later it would be so much easier to just pick up the phone.
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Caleb Haynes
1/30/2013 09:26:57 am
The Educational Technology Bill of Rights was pretty interesting to read. I thought that some of the so called "Bills" were good ideas while others were not at all.
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Cassandra Nappier
1/30/2013 12:06:12 pm
After reading the blog, I felt conflicted. Although I agree with most points, I would like to know whether or not this applies to all grades. I understand that the use of technology can be very beneficial to students and teachers alike, but do not believe that youngsters should be exposed to the technological world until they've reached a maturity level at which they truly understand the Educational Technology Bill of Rights. I also slightly felt as though the Educational Technology Bill of Rights entitled the students too much. For instance, the first allowed for students to use their own technology. Even though this has its advantages, I can see some student bringing in their iPhone and using it for Snapchat or texting all day. There in lies availability for lawsuits in which a student may use their technological tool in a negative fashion with the blind consent of the teacher. If there was a right on there stating that misuse would lead to consequences, I would probably feel more at ease about the idea.
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Kayla Y.
1/31/2013 12:20:59 am
I completely agree with you about the maturity statement. I actually mentioned that in my post as well. The unfortunate side to that is what is the likelihood that you have an entire group of students that are mature enough to use the technology services allowed to them in appropriate ways. Unfortunately I don't see that happening, because I see more and more immaturity in students than I did even when I was younger. It's like it's getting worse with the more changes we see in technology.
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Troy Holbrook
1/30/2013 01:35:29 pm
I am from old school. The greatest technology we had in grade school was the overhead projector with the light bed and vertical arm that had 2 lenses that projected the image from vertical to horizontal…toward the screen! Then, of course, was the lithograph, or what we would call, the Xerox. It was a huge printing machine that required a trained technician to operate. When making copies, carbon powder was spewing, the smell of ammonia was overwhelming, and the end result, a copy, was a best guess! This was the early 70’s, and in the back hills of the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky where we received the scraps in terms of educational technology.
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Kayla Yount
1/31/2013 12:14:21 am
This so-called "Bill of Rights" was very interesting to read. When I was a student I'm sure that I would have jumped right on the bandwagon and agreed with everything that was listed without even thinking about. Now, even though I don't actually teach, I think that some of these statements are a little far out there. Some I agree with, but only if the students are at a maturity level that will allow them to not abuse the technology that they are able to use in the classroom, but rather realize that it is for their benefit and to only use it when needed for things school related.
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Heather Carlton
2/2/2013 10:38:45 am
I would have completely agreed with the whole list as well back when I was in middle school and high school!
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Dane Frazier
1/31/2013 12:54:15 am
I really like what this article has to say. I would like to know the exact age of the student that wrote this as I believe that there should be an age where students are allowed more freedom. The world is full of technology that is ever changing and it should be the duty of teachers to keep up today with technology and teach it in class as that is the way of the future. Obviously there needs to be a limit to what they can do as they would be trying to text and tweet in class. On the other hand that is the way world is run and the way people network today. This can be a very important part of life as networking leads to jobs in the future. I can see were this article would be controversial, but I liked it and there is a lot to be said for this students beliefs.
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Crissina Kemp
1/31/2013 02:45:09 am
The Educational Technology Bill of Rights was very thought provoking and enlightening. There are some very valid points in the Bill of Rights from both the teacher/school perspective, and also from the students' viewpoint. Technology is a great teaching and learning tool for the classroom. The technology field changes so often and so rapidly making it a continuous learning opportunity for teachers throughout the career. Staring with #1, students should have the right to use their town technology at school because they are familiar with it and know how to use it, as long as it does not disrupt or interfere with the classroom learning environment, such as texting or accessing social media during class time. If they have laptops, ipads, or macs to use as a learning tool, it would be great for them to bring them to and use at school. However, we don't live in an ideal world and allowing some students to bring newer, faster technology to school with other students who do not have or cannot afford these resources, put the learning environment on an unequal level and unfair advantage unless all of the same technology can be provided to every student for use. With budget cuts and schools losing resources, it can be difficult for schools to find resources to provide the technology for all students. It would also make it a nightmare for teachers to try to teach a classroom full of students using different technology as learning tools because there would be no consistency in being able to teach the same thing to all of the students. Regarding #2, students should be able to access the school's wifi as long as it is for educational purposes and they are following school internet usage and policy since the school has a responsibility for the safety of all students. Schools should set up blocking of certain information and website on the wifi so students are not accessing inappropriate material. As far as #3, I had no idea what a digital artifact is and had to do some research to try to learn and understand it, but if students know what they are and can submit them to prove their understanding of a subject then I don't see how it can hurt unless there are some aspects I'm unaware of. In #4, I think everyone uses Wikipedia at some point as a quick resource to learn information about something. If it helps a student understand a topic better, then they should use it and verify the information is correct, but not cite it as an educational or scholarly source because it may contain some inaccurate information. Regarding #5 and social media, students should be allowed to access their social media outside of the classroom and on their own time unless it is being utilized by the teacher to teach in a lesson. Students should not be accessing social media during class time and disrupting their learning environment. I also think schools should use social media more as a communication tool with parents and students because we have become a social media society and they will get more attendance and response using social media tools. I also think social media can be a great tool for teaching students, particularly in ways we are using it to learn in this class by sharing ideas, linking to resources, and learning networks. In #6, students do have the right to be taught by teachers who know how to manage technology in the classroom, and this where imperative and ongoing training becomes important and should be provided for teachers on a regular basis. It also goes along with #7 because we are teaching students skills for future careers, and technology plays a vital role in the skills they will need so although we may not have needed them in the past, we need to know how to teach them these skills for the future. For #8, the future generations are also an instantaneous society, and if we have technology tools available to provide a faster response time and feedback on grades, then we should do our best to try to do that for students. Students being protected from technology in #9 is very important, and since technology is inevitable for students, it is something that needs to start being taught to students when they start school so they make good choices in the future and understand consequences that could result from bad choices regarding technology use. Finally #10, it is time for all of us to embrace technology because it is not going anywhere and is only going to advance and grow from here. We need to embrace it as a continuous learning opportunity and as a learning tool for our students. We shouldn't be afraid to ask our students to explain a piece of technology or to teach us how to use it better because it will engage them in learning and build their confidence know they can help their teaching learn something.
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Wendy Walker
1/31/2013 02:01:28 am
I loved the article and can see many points in it being valid. However, with all issues of "rights" there are many disagreements. The article should not be entitled rights but something along the lines of provisions or agreements.
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Armegis Spearman
1/31/2013 07:34:10 am
My thoughts about social media are very similar. The fact that a student feels the need to post or tweet a person that they will probably see in fifty minutes amazes me. This is an issue that truly has to be addressed and the saying " patience is a virtue" has truly gone dormant with this younger generation. The aspect of respect and respectfulness has also gone out the window with social media. So many people post and say hurtful things via the internet today when most of the people wouldn't say the same things to a persons face. We have gone away from the art of looking a person in the eye when we speak to them as a result of this trendy way of communication.
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Armegis Spearman
1/31/2013 05:03:57 am
This article as a whole, had it's good points and also it's bad. The entire subject of technology and rights in schools are highly debatable and should be discussed on a larger scale. For many older individuals, the presence of technology was virtually non-existent when compared to the world as we know it today.
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Colie Trawick
1/31/2013 05:14:08 am
I am very conflicted by this blog... I am not a certified teacher but with my experience as a student who was much involved with the internet when growing up and as a substitute/paraprofessional I feel I can speak on it from both sides.
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Armegis Spearman
1/31/2013 07:23:29 am
I completely agree that the amount of rights given to students are getting out of hand. The fact that students are getting more unhealthy with every year that passes are a direct result of the technology era. Spending every moment on a game or some web site isn't good for that reason alone and when you think of a student that can't physically walk into a library and find a book, it blows my mind. Although this seems to be a problem, without the technology, they will definitely fall behind in other aspects of this learning process that we have today. I truly have conflicting thoughts on this matter.
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Troy Holbrook
2/2/2013 09:28:09 am
Okay Colie, I’ll call you conservative, but so am I. I too have difficulty letting students dictate how they want to be taught in the classroom. If you asked my students what they would like for me to do to better their experience, most would probably say that they want to only do the automotive shop work and dismiss with the classroom/textbook work. I hear it constantly; why do we need to know all this math to work on cars? When I was in grade school our “big thing” was playing marbles. I can only imagine what Mrs. Vanover would have said if we told her that we had a “right” that she teach us math by letting us play marbles! There might be some merit to teaching math in that fashion, but I believe the spirit of competition would receive most of the attention and the learning experience would suffer.
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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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