Internet Safety and Classroom Rules Flyer Reflection

In a world where new technology is emerging virtually every day, it is difficult for busy parents to stay on top of what new worlds are becoming available to their children. If parents aren't aware of what potential dangers and benefits are available in this burgeoning technological world, how can they be expected to protect and teach their children? As an educator, my responsibilities don't stop at the classroom door, especially if I choose to engage my students in a virtual classroom. This internet safety and classroom rules flyer is the way in which I help to bridge the gap between these worlds.

In a concise and well organized flyer I have included a lot of material that I hope will aid in the awareness of the parents and students. The students and I will have engaged in an in depth discussion regarding classroom expectations and internet safety by way of my PowerPoint presentation, but the parents should also be clued into the basics of these discussions. It is my goal that this flyer will not only bring awareness to the parents, but also inspire a conversation between them and their child.

My goal with this flyer is not only to reaffirm the discussions students and I have engaged in about internet safety, but to assure the parents that any access to the internet is not frivolous or without guidelines. For this reason, I also included the school district's policies regarding internet access and the use of technology. I think that this flyer does a thorough job of communicating to the parents that we take their child's safety and education very seriously.

In addition to providing the parents with the basic rules and guidelines that have been set up for safe and appropriate internet use in the classroom, physical or virtual, and the school district's policies on this matter, I included several resources for this parents to explore. Each of these sites discusses various aspects of internet safety and how each parent can set appropriate boundaries in the home to ensure the safety of their child. There are also links to resources such as computer filters for the home computer to help guide the students away from inappropriate or unsafe material as deemed by family standards.

I think that the material contained within this flyer is very important as are the goals of awareness and safety. The flyer is visually appealing to draw the attention of the parents and the information is concise to keep the attention of the reader. Plus, with the inclusion of a "permission slip", I am ensuring that the parents are engaged, at least on some level. All of these aspects added together demonstrate that I am a teacher who is not only well versed in technology, but an advocate for its appropriate use. With evidence that I have taken the time to assemble such a clean and clear document for something as standard as a flyer, I hope my dedication to excellence is apparent as are my adherence to the ITSE standards.

Internet Safety and Classroom Expectations PowerPoint Reflection

I really enjoyed creating a PowerPoint presentation educating the students on internet safety and the classroom expectations. To begin with, the information that was contained within the presentation is information that the students need to be aware of. However, standing up in front of the classroom lecturing about "stranger danger" and the importance of arriving to class on time is not an effective means of getting through to the students. This PowerPoint offers a viable and high-tech solution to reach the students.

The downside to this presentation is that it is a PowerPoint about rules which is a teenager's kryptonite. So, I did my best to liven up the presentation with colorful graphics and text. In addition, I wanted to move beyond the "no chewing gum in class" and "raise your hand" classroom rules. My goal was to set forth classroom expectations that inspired rather than dictated. To illustrate this, I made each expectation tie in with an important quote. I even incorporated Yoda from Star Wars. It was my hope that these aspects of the presentation would help to not only keep the attention of the students, but to engage them.

In addition to engaging the students while in the classroom, I also wanted to engage them in our virtual classroom with the class website. By making this presentation interactive and available online, I am giving my students continued access to this presentation for future reference, but also as a way of owning these expectations. This will also give them practice with interacting with future presentations that are related to our course work and reading while helping each student to become an active participant in his or her own education.

Considering the amount of time I would like my students to be engaged with the online classroom setting I think it would be beneficial to have a PowerPoint presentation and classroom discussion dedicated to appropriate online behavior and safety. This information is so critical in ensuring each student's continued safety and future well being that I don't think that it would be "over kill". The YouTube video I have included in this initial presentation goes a long way in starting a discussion about the importance of being aware of what you post online. However, due to the potential future implications each poor posting choice holds, I feel it would be wise to have an in depth discussion that includes not only this topic, but the issue of "sexting" as well.

Through the utilization of this technological tool, as an educator, I think that I have not only accomplished my initial goal of engaging and teaching the students, but I have opened the door to important future discussions. Furthermore, by being able to demonstrate my professional proficiency with technology in the classroom, I am meeting the ISTE's Educational Technology Standards for Teachers.

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.
   
2. Design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.
   
3. Model digital-age work and learning.
   
4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.
   
5. Engage in professional growth and leadership.
   

Back to School Newsletter Reflection

I am quite happy with my back to school newsletter for parents. This tool has allowed me to communicate directly with the parents in an approachable fashion. It not only gave me the opportunity to lay a foundation of expectations, standards, and highlights, but more importantly it opened up a very important line of communication between myself and the parents. Parental involvement is critical for the educational success of students. By demonstrating to the parents I am a teacher who is happy to answer questions and supportive of suggestions from both students and parents I make myself more approachable.

Just as the content helped to determine the effectiveness of this newsletter, the appearance of the newsletter was equally important. Some parents may have had negative experiences with educational settings. By providing a newsletter that is visually appealing and upbeat in nature, I help to negate any potentially negative expectations. Furthermore, the information is organized in manageable pieces with distinct headings. This helps to ensure the parent reads the important information, but also avoids overwhelming the parent with unnecessary words and sections.

This back to school newsletter was so successful that it inspires me to create one for the students. It is important that the parents are involved in their child's education, but it is also important that the students benefit from the feeling of a classroom community as early as possible in the school year. By extending this tool to my students, I would be communicating to them that they are important to this process and community. Using the newsletter tool for both parents and students has the potential to be a good tool to introduce new books we will be reading in class as well.

The in classroom applications of this newsletter are limitless as communication tools should be. In addition, it has helped me as a professional to determine what is important information and what is not so vital information that might bog down the brevity of the text. I've also discovered new ways in which to work within a word document to make the visual aspect of the document more exciting thereby setting the tone for what I write and the reader's expectations.

Technology in the Modern Classroom

  
 

Dear Parents,

As our children grow, they are growing in an ever changing world, bursting at the seams with possibilities. Many of these possibilities are a direct result of the evolving technological landscape that defines our current world. When faced with new technology, our children jump at the opportunity to experience and conquer gadgets that once upon a time seemed only as plausible as the reality depicted by The Jetsons. From cell phones, iPods, and computers to game consoles, digital readers, and net-books, the educational applications of these new world devices are limitless. Throw in the wonderful world of web 2.0 technology and there seems to be no world, virtual or otherwise, that can't be conquered.

It is common for many parents and students to think that most of the technologies I listed hold merely entertainment value. Most people have only interacted with this technology for the purpose of entertainment or social networking. It is my goal as your child's teacher to utilize these devices to engage each student, broaden their horizons, and stoke the fire of curiosity so it will burn beyond their years in school. Here are just a few examples of how I plan to use technology in the classroom to accomplish these goals:

• Class Website
  

  The Internet is a wonderful resource when used responsibly. It not only affords students the opportunity to explore otherwise unavailable resources, but it also allows me to extend the classroom environment beyond the walls of the school. Through the use of a class website, students will be able to access interactive PowerPoint presentations, podcasts of readings and lectures, a moderated discussion board, preapproved course related internet links, a class calendar, and even course relevant games. This site also offers a means of contacting me, which is available to both students and parents.
  

  In addition to extending the classroom environment for the students, the class website also extends the classroom out to you, the parents. All of the features that are available to the students are also available to the you, giving you the opportunity to be as involved in your child's education as you would like. You can see what piece of literature we are reading in class, observe the online discussions inspired by this reading, and even keep an eye on important due dates and class events.
  

• Podcasts and Interactive PowerPoint Presentations
  

  Each student is unique and as such, each student has a unique way of looking at the world and learning. Rather than ignoring this fact and following past traditions of assigning reading and lecturing at the front of the class, I will use technology to address each student's learning style. Some students are auditory learners while others are visual learners. With the utilization of Podcasts and Interactive PowerPoint presentations, it is my goal to engage each of these types of learners.
  

  As a Literature teacher, I would like to believe that all students share my love for reading, but that just isn't the case. For some students, reading can be a taxing endeavor. As a result, a high regard for the written word is something they do not hold. However, by giving these students podcasts (an audio broadcast) that assists them in their reading, as their teacher I can begin to open up their eyes to an entirely new world of the written word. We will meet on common ground.
  

  Some students, although very capable readers, need additional resources to help reinforce the themes, concepts, and vocabulary we will encounter in various assigned readings. To aid in this reinforcement and to help improve reading cognition, there will be PowerPoint presentations that address the various aspects of the work ranging from themes and character development to the personal history of the author. Each PowerPoint will have pages that link to preapproved outside resources to encourage additional research. Through the use of pictures, videos, narrations, and additional websites students will be able to discover that there is more to a story than the words on the page.
  

• Online Discussion Boards and Peer to Peer Collaboration
  

  In class discussions play an important part in learning. Not only do they help to foster a sense of community by establishing a dialogue, but they also encourage students to think outside of the box. Through discussions, students develop critical thinking skills they will use for the rest of their lives. I encourage all of my students to speak up and let their voices be heard. However, I also understand not every student is comfortable with participating in an open, in class, discussion. To help alleviate some of the stress associated with speaking up in class and to ensure the ideas of all students are heard, I ask that in addition to participating in classroom discussions, students converse on appropriately themed topics on an online discussion board.
  

  This discussion board ensures all students are engaging in thoughtful conversations about our readings and other related topics. The sense of community that is developed through these discussions opens the door for peer to peer collaboration that otherwise might have been awkward. Students who may have been struggling with an assignment can work with one another to find a solution. This means of collaboration reinforces the concepts and improves the confidence of the students.
  

 

Technology is a tool of engagement. With the aid of this tool, it is my hope that the skills your child learns in my class go beyond that of a traditional classroom setting. It is my aim for each student to learn an appreciation for the written word, but more importantly, learn an appreciation for their own intelligence and abilities. By meeting on the common ground of this technological turf students will be afforded the opportunity to see new perspectives; perspectives that will help to shape the people they will become. I am looking forward to embarking on this journey both with your child and you.

  
 

Sincerely,

  
 

Mrs. Hight