"From the Frontline" - Holiday 2012 Edition (highlights)

Internet Safety and Digital Ethics
News briefs for students, parents and professionals living, learning and teaching in the digital world.

Happy Holidays to all and a shout out to my VSTE/Edmodo friends @ http://www.vsteconference.org/.

This edition starts with an important opportunity to give input on the new Virginia Computer Technology Standards of Learning.  At the November 2012 Virginia Board of Education meeting, VDOE was authorized to proceed with the K-12 Computer Technology Standards of Learning review process. The new 2012 standards are available for public comment from November 29th to December 2nd.

Twitter, new research, FBI tools, new digital ethics page links and more in this edition of The Frontline.

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1.  Virginia Dept. of Education released "Computer Technology SOLs" DRAFT 
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/computer_technology/2012/index.shtml

3.  Smishing Scams: Sorry, You Did Not Win a $1,000 Target Gift Card - "Smishing is similar to "phishing," in which you receive an email that seems to be from a reputable source, asking for your credit card data, password, or other private information. Only instead of an email, smishing takes place through the SMS text messages you receive on your cell phone."
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/05/30/smishing-scams-sorry-you-did-not-win-a-1-000-target-gift-card/

VSTE & BYOD Luncheon

VSTE Conference links and musings....
http://www.vsteconference.org/

Educational Technology Luncheon on BYOD...

Va Beach's BYOD policy link
http://www.vbschools.com/curriculum/byod/guidelines.asp

VA Beach's BYOD FAQ
http://www.vbschools.com/curriculum/byod/index.asp

VA Beach Cellphone Policy
Virginia Beach School Board amends cell phone policy

Rockingham County Cellphone/Digital Device Policy
http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/PolicyManual/JZK.htm

VA Beach session back channel at VSTE
http://todaysmeet.com/BYOD2012

York County Public Schools BYOD Story/FAQ/video
http://www.edline.net/pages/YCSD/General_Info/BYOT/default

Quote from Steve Dembo...keynote... "cellphone is NOT a distraction if it's required to be on the desk."

New Directions on Digital Citizenship

Anne Collier from Netfamilynews.org is a leader in the field of internet safety and digital citizenship.  Her work is both on the mark and up to the moment.  This slideshare presentation "Digital Citizenship, briefly" gives stakeholders in the industry new insights.

RePost: 11 Reasons Teachers Aren't Using Technology

11 Reasons Teachers Aren't Using Technology

Posted by John Spencer http://www.educationrethink.com/2012/07/11-reasons-teachers-arent-using.html

I know that all tools are technically technology. However, for the purpose of this post, I'm thinking computers, tablets and mobile devices. This is not a comprehensive list and I admit that it's limited entirely to my own experiences and my own local context:

1. Fear: Implementing new technology can be frightening on so many levels. Whether it's a fear of letting go of control or a sense that one doesn't have the right skills or a concern about digital footprint, privacy or cyber-bullying, many teachers are simply scared. 

Get Everyone in the Box!

In our introductory faculty meetings, we're demonstrating the BYOT concept and our new cellphone policy.  Our mindset is to not think outside the box... rather, make the box so large EVERYONE can be in it!
We're doing some introductory activities in the 30 minute meeting using QR code readers, Socrative quiz app, and even ChaCha for those with flip phones and non-smartphones.

Links on the topic of BYOT...

• Info graphic on Personalized Learning in 2012
  - "Today’s K-12 students tap into a wide range of tech tools for personalized learning— both in and out of school. Parents support digital learning to prepare their children for the future. See how technology enables new and customized learning that is socially- based, un-tethered and digitally-rich."

Get Ready for Some Great Video Content

We're into the school year and are promoting and educating our new digital devices in the classroom policy (otherwise known as "the cellphone policy")...

Here's a great start with these youtube clips.

• Cell Phones in the Classroom : Learning Tools for the 21st Century
• Cellphones as Learning Tools
• Using Cell Phones To Engage Students in the Classroom
• Social Media in the Classroom
• Teacher welcomes texting in class
• 5 Myths about Mobile Learning(with video)

Google/YouTube Based Digital Ethics Lessons

"YouTube has a firm place in the current classroom. From Khan Academy’s videos to YouTube EDU and beyond, there’s a reason all these videos are finding a home in schools. In an effort to help keep the ball rolling, Google just launched a set of 10 interactive lessons designed to support teachers in educating students on digital citizenship. A topic obviously quite close to Google’s heart."http://www.google.com/edu/teachers/youtube/curric/index.html

Here we go...into the classroom with Digital Devices

Fall is upon us and with new digital devices policies around and commonwealth, it's time to start posting some good links and resources for their use in the classroom.

Here is a good read on 14 Smart Tips for using iPads in the Classroom
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/07/14-smart-tips-for-using-ipads-in-class/

7 Myths About BYOD Debunked
http://thejournal.com/Articles/2011/11/09/7-BYOD-Myths.aspx?Page=1&p=1

Bring Your Own Devices - How Do You Do It Or How Do You Get There?

http://edtechsandyk.blogspot.com/2011/02/bring-your-own-devices-how-do-you-do-it.html

The 10 Commandments of BYOD
http://www.pearltrees.com/#/N-play=1&N-s=1_5478172&N-u=1_695635&N-p=50403188&N-f=1_5478172&N-fa=5477673

Rockingham County moves forward on digital devices policy.

The RCPS school board voted 4-1 to accept the proposed cellphone policy for a one semester trial run starting in the fall of 2012.  The concept received a lot of attention, discussion and research by stakeholders and included a robust discussion on Facebook provided by one of the board members.

Here are some of the comments in italics made by this blog's author on the topic:

The thread posted last week on this topic was informative, full of discussion and had several informative comments by me as I was on the committee that studied this issue for months. Stakeholders had comments and issues raised that were good discussion also during that thread. The committee provided a public page for comments by our division computer supervisor, interviewed students, teachers, administrators, parents and digital specialists within the division.

No unanimous consensus was reached and most likely will never be reached on this topic... understood. Advancing technology will always be uncomfortable for some, will always involve the digital divide(haves vs have nots) but in the larger picture over time enhances education and communication. 

Our digitally connected society is now a fact of life. The genie cannot be stuffed back in the bottle. There is always a downside of free and open communication and access just as there is a downside of oppressive or undue control and manipulation by those in charge.

After studying and researching this HEAVILY for the last several years, I'm convinced it's the right path to take by putting the learners in a position to access more data in their own way. This gives them the opportunity to gain responsibility, learn the ethical use of devices and take possession of their own learning(the goal of modern education).

Most teachers are optimists. We believe students can learn, can adapt and will make the most of a situation. I'm appreciative of the comments from optimistic parents who get it and are willing to express their views publicly.

and another with questions raised in red

"If they can google it, what then is the role of a human instructor? Pardon my old-fashioned ways"

TODAYS media centric classroom promotes the students taking possession of their learning... the OLD model of teacher "pushing" all the data to the student is no longer effective! Students today are interested and willing to take their learning to the next level... personal learning. Teachers today are facilitators of learning. Any time a student goes after the knowledge, is interactive with the lesson, the lesson is better learned. The student takes possession of the process... Self actualization has ALWAYS been the best way to learn something.

Rockingham County Schools Lead on "My Digital Life" Initiative

Rockingham County Schools were the first division in Virginia to implement 100% participation of a Virginia School division.  According to sponsor Neustar, RCPS was also the first school division in the NATION to complete the initiative division wide!

ALL four middle schools in Rockingham implemented the online course in the 8th grade computer literacy classes this spring.  778 8th graders participated in the program.

A video highlight of the awards ceremony at J.Frank Hillyard Middle School is on Vimeo at: https://vimeo.com/43463021

Flickr photos taken by Katie Hughes are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/everfievents/sets/72157629987970424/

Background on the initiative is at: http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/news-room/press-releases/2012/neustar-launches-digital-literacy-and-responsibility-program-for-virginia-schools