Growing up, our entire generation has been influenced by technology, from social media, cell phones, internet, laptops, and so much more. As future educators, our students are going to continue an upward trend of using technology in just about every aspect of their lives. So the question is, how do we keep out students safe from the unnecessary and damaging things that they may stumble across when using technology inside and outside the classroom?
I'm sure all of us can relate to our teachers, parents, and any adult authority figure telling us to be careful about what we do on the internet cause there are dangerous and bad things that can happen and we could be harmed if we're not careful. It was all to scare a little bit of sense into us. I found in interesting in the article right off the bat that they were saying "fear-based" perspectives is not effective. When I learned about the internet and we had access to computer we all learned that we needed to be careful what kind of information we were putting out there and who and what we were talking about. Studies have shown that kids aren't as afraid of that tactic as they used to be and that was really shocking as I read this article. Bullying and harassment most often by peers happens online and through other technology such as texting. If students are able to learn how to protect themselves then they will fall victim to the internet demons.
I'm sure all of us can relate to our teachers, parents, and any adult authority figure telling us to be careful about what we do on the internet cause there are dangerous and bad things that can happen and we could be harmed if we're not careful. It was all to scare a little bit of sense into us. I found in interesting in the article right off the bat that they were saying "fear-based" perspectives is not effective. When I learned about the internet and we had access to computer we all learned that we needed to be careful what kind of information we were putting out there and who and what we were talking about. Studies have shown that kids aren't as afraid of that tactic as they used to be and that was really shocking as I read this article. Bullying and harassment most often by peers happens online and through other technology such as texting. If students are able to learn how to protect themselves then they will fall victim to the internet demons.
I liked that the article focused on texting and "sexting" as a main point in teaching kids about technology because our cell phones are everywhere. I'm sure pretty much all of us are typing our blogs while we text friends and have our Facebook open. Cyber bullying is not the only way students can be harmed. Texting isn't as safe as some might assume and we as role models and educators should be teaching our students about that facet of technology as well. I'm glad the article touched on it.
It's teaching the students "Netiquette" that will benefit how they handle the responsibility of being online and having access to technology.
I think the way that fear based curriculum can backfire is if students do not experience the things on the internet that you told them to be afraid of, they may think you were lying to them or exaggerating. When teaching students about drug an alcohol safety teachers and parents have often used fear based curriculum to teach them. Telling students all of the bad things that can happen if they drink or take drugs. When students actually start experiencing those things they feel that the adults had lied to them about it. This is one of the reasons that the D.A.R.E. program has been found to be completely ineffective in stopping student drug use. I think when teaching students about the internet it is best to be honest with them, and not try to terrify them about going online. I personally am not afraid about being online and students should not be either. I really liked your post though. It really made me think and reconsider my position. Sorry this comment got kind of long.
ReplyDeleteI talked about the aspect of fear when telling students about the internet as well. I totally know what you are saying about having authority figures telling us to be careful about what we do on the internet...and I can say from my own experience that it is not something that works! I like to thing that when we are interacting with our students we are going to do so in a positive way-so the aspect of scaring students away from something really bugs me. Plus its totally ineffective! Great post :)
ReplyDeleteI liked that you touched on the aspect of teaching kids how to appropriately use their cell phones as well as the internet. Sometimes I don't even think as carefully about what I text as I do about what I post on the internet. We will have to take every facet of technology so that our students are responsible and safe in every way.
ReplyDelete