Keeping Kids Internet Safe

This article examines different strategies to keep kids safe while using the internet.  I really like most of the strategies the first one was talking to the kids about why it is important to be careful on the internet.  Talking to kids over and over about how important this is will eventually get through to them even if it seems like they aren't really listening.  It also says it's the staff’s responsibility to know what the internet policy is.  The second strategy that they talked about was building the students trust, this seems more geared to younger students who have little idea about internet use and what a bad site looks like.  The next thing was accept the fact that kids will make mistakes; I agree with this especially in the elementary schools, kids don't always take the time to look over the description on Google before clicking on it.  Allow student personal internet use, this way they are given a privilege and they know that if they abuse this privilege they will lose their personal internet use.  The next thing is use moderate punishment, if the student is caught on an inappropriate website take away personal use not classroom use, still let them participate with the other students, I like this I think it is more likely work then just taking it away all together.  The last strategy that really caught my eye was model ethical behaviors, this is saying that if the teacher always does the right thing the students are more like to model it which I really think is important.
Johnson, D. (2008). Keeping Kids Internet Safe. Education World. Retrieved November 8, 2010, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/johnson/johnson024.shtml.

Speaking of Electronic Whiteboards

It is clear that times are changing.  It is no longer productive to have a simple projection screen and computer.  That is the purpose of electronic whiteboards.  Many people know these boards as Smart boards.  These are a definite benefit to the classroom, it allows students to write on the board as well as the teacher can highlight and interactive activities right in the front of the classroom.  The teacher can navigate the internet right in front of the students so that they can see exactly what is on the teacher's screen.  It comes with electronic markers so that the students can write on the webpage or activity without have separate handouts for everyone.  These marking can all be saved for later review making note taking less necessary.  Students became more interested in the lesson because they could be a part of the teaching by interacting with the Smart board.  The only downside the article mentions is that it is not always accessible to students with disabilities.  Students with learning disabilities that use screen readers to read what is on the screen cannot use that device with the Smart board.  This creates a gap in including that student in the lesson.  Also students with motor disabilities cannot use the Smart board in a student centered activity which could also leave them out.  Overall, I think this a necessary tool in the classroom today, it's important that the teacher is able to operate the Smart board in order to get the students involved as much as possible.

Jackson, L. (2004) Speaking of Electronic Whiteboards. Education World. Retrieved November, 1 2010, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech206.shtml.