Wikipedia Reflection

Wikipedia: Ban it or Boost it?

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that a buddy told me that Wikipedia isn’t the best place to get hard factual data. Because any person at any time can add to a topic explanation, there is a chance that information can be stretched or flat out untrue. When I look on a site, I want to be able to trust the content I am looking at or at least get some information that’s accurate.

I used to use Wikipedia quite a bit, especially to pass the time. I could look up such a range of topics. I used it and it listed all the Civil Wars (OSU vs. UO) complete with the winning team, score, and home site for over 100 years. I would say that I use it now around once a week when I am surfing the web or want to know something obscure. I usually will start my search by going to the English page and typing in the first couple letters of what I am interested in and go from there. There may be times it leads me to other websites or other topics. I think it’s a fun site to obtain fun facts or just getting a little “candy” for the brain.

As a teacher I would accept some projects or assignments that had some information from Wikipedia. I would definitely require other references and websites to back up the data used or found. I would encourage my students to look for reliability and credibility when it comes to using Wikipedia and other sites as well. I think the Website Credibility assignment we did in our current class was a great tool to use when analyzing a website and its validity. Students would have to know what Wikipedia is all about and that just because it’s found on the site, it’s not always true or accurate. They have to use their brains. I would not accept a project with Wikipedia data by itself.

From the article, the statement regarding “flags” on pages of topics lets the user know that not all the data is 100%, there could be an opinion present, as well as omissions. The student is able to see this and should be encouraged to research the topic further or use other references. Another piece from the article stated the wide range of items available to research. If anything, a students can explore a website, start looking into a topic, and draw comparisons to other sites with other postings involving the same topic. It really can be a learning experience.

My policy for my students regarding Internet research would be to really examine the reliability of the sites you are using, especially for a project, paper, or group assignment. Using a form of a Website Credibility worksheet would be a nice tool to get used to knowing what to look for in a credible site. I would want them to have back up information other than just Internet based, depending on the importance of the assignment. I have noticed when I look up items on Wikipedia that I know a lot about or have experience in; they are usually pretty good and accurate. I would also want them to document their sources so I could always go and check the accuracy of their work and references. I would keep Wikipedia around and will continue to use it; I just take what I find with a grain of salt these days and always like confirming the information found.

Should Cell Phones Be Banned From Classrooms?

This is a very interesting topic today in schools.  It was brought to my attention in my last class from Dr. Lichau, just how much kids are using cell phones in schools and that in some districts, students are encouraged to use them in class.  I found in college, cell phones going off during class to be very distracting and extremely rude.  I do see that they can be a useful tool in learning and finding out information.  Where do we as teachers draw the line?

            I myself as an aspiring teacher tend to side with the “yes” people, as far as cell phones being banned or not used during class time.  In the article “Should Cell Phones Be Banned From Classrooms”, Josh Allen asks the question, “How can instructions including cell phone use even be considered for a valuable use of block time?”  I see why this gentleman feels this way.  Teachers have limited time as far as what they can get through with curriculum and lessons.  Something could be lost or not covered if too much time is spent dealing with cell phones.  After reading both sides of the debate however, I have changed my stance a bit.  I could see myself performing lessons in class having the students use their cell phones to do research, etc., to complete the assignment.

            In the article “From Toy to Tool”, Liz Kolb discusses a great point.  She states, “Over time I have come to realize that cell phones are part of our students everyday lives.”  These kids are part of the Digital Native generation.  Almost everyone you see nowadays has a cell phone, including children.  That being said, I would have individual contracts for each student to sign at the beginning of each particular class.  There would be times of appropriate use such as for assignments or research, but texting and taking pictures, etc., would be questionable.  If students used their cell phones at times when not permitted, I would collect it and return it at the end of class and that student would be on probation.  Steps would have to be taken and use in class would have to be earned back. 

            Referring back to the counterpoint article, Liz Kolb argues for use in the classroom.  She states, “A basic cell phone has the ability to be the students Swiss army knife of technology.”  Students can use the Internet, take notes, pictures, etc., to help with assignments and projects.  There are many uses that could be applied to schoolwork.  I would be very much interested in having a couple assignments during a class where the cell phones were used to collect data and then presented. 

            I think having cell phone use in the classroom can be a double-edged sword.  I think they can be very useful for research, projects, and provide numerous helpful functions.  I also see them being a distraction and being used inappropriately taking away from the total learning experience of the individual and group.  I would have to take a final stance and say in my classroom I would have to get to know the students, see how responsible they are, and see what kind of projects could be created positively using the phones.  At this point however, I would probably still lean towards having them banned in the classroom.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying Reflection

 

            In the school environment throughout time, bullying has always reared its ugly head. Like it or not most people at some point have either bullied or been bullied. It happens and hopefully you can move on. In society today, cyberbullying is the newest form of torment.  Cyberbullying can include harassing, threatening, and intimidating to name a few, using Internet technology to carry out the act.  Surprising to me, this is a major issue taking place involving our children, which in turn is affecting the overall climate at schools.  This topic is new to me because I don’t really have any cyberbullying experience, given or received.  I am a little older than the kids in this technologically advanced generation.  We used computers, but teasing or bullying took place at school by words or in-person actions.  The only time I can recall any sort of incident; my buddy got into my email account and sent me a message from an ex-girlfriend. I did some investigating and found out it wasn’t real and he did it. Let’s just say it hasn’t happened again.

            One of the major issues schools are facing is where the cyberbullying takes place.  Because a lot of the reported incidents take place from off site or off campus computers or the accounts weren’t created at school, legally they are limited in what they can do.  Individual state laws and school districts anti harassment policies are being re-written to catch up with this newer form of bullying.  If the incident takes place on school grounds or is done using school computers, then the school can punish the perpetrator.  Punishment could include no use of electronic devices, detention, suspension, or even expulsion.  

            Teachers need to be aware and alert to problems arising from cyberbullying and that events could boil over into the classrooms or campuses.  Some signs to look for regarding someone who has experienced bullying could include depression or withdrawal from their group of friends, low self -esteem, and anxiousness.  An example from the “Is There Anything Schools Can Do?” article said a possible sign might be a student receiving a text or email and right after getting very upset or angry.  Some signs may be harder to pin point.  I think what schools can do is re-write their current anti-harassment policies to include in clear terms what Cyberbullying is and what the repercussions are if they take place.  Discuss openly with individuals and classes as a whole what the expectations are regarding school policies and the use of technology in classes can be taken away if positive behavior isn’t present. 

Unfortunately teachers and schools aren’t with these kids 24/7, so no matter what is written into law, educators still are limited at times on what they can do.  Schools can’t regulate all off site technology use.  They don’t have the time, budget, or staff.  We have to encourage not displaying this sort of behavior at school or away, encourage students to tell someone if it happens, save the evidence, and get parents involved.  The parents are the ones who need to be monitoring this even more than the teachers considering the majority of accounts, etc. are created away from school.  Educating parents to know the signs to look for and what steps to take if found could be very helpful.  Then the schools and communities would be working together and hopefully put a stop to these types of acts before someone really gets hurt or worse…

 

Teacher's and Social Networking

In this new world where almost everything is tied into technology and the use of the internet, a person has to and should be very careful about what they do and what they post on-line.  Doing a Google search on oneself is exciting as well as nerve racking.  I did just that during this assignment.  I typed in my name and did a search on Anthony Swerdlik and Tony Swerdlik.  The results were minimum, but I am used to that due to my uncommon last name.  When I typed in Anthony Swerdlik, it produced 8 results.  Tony Swerdlik produced 3 results.  Some of the websites that came up were classmates.com, oregonstate.edu, beavertonvalleytime/sports.com, and peoplesearch.mylife.com.  I am not embarrassed by anything that came up.  Basically what I found was there were few results involving my name and myself. The couple of sites that did produce results contained information about when I was a student in high school, and college.  The Valley Times article was a write up from last summer involving an alumni tournament I played in and was on the winning team.  On Pipl website search, there were 3 sites that came up that allowed background searches and checks.  I don’t necessarily like the sites that came up with my birth date, address, and home phone number.  It’s a little troubling to know whoever can look me up and know my personal information.

There isn’t anything incriminating that I found when I conducted a search of myself.  The change I would make is to have my information unlisted including my home address, phone number and email.  My number one priority is my family and keeping them safe.  When I become a teacher I don’t want students knowing my exact address and phone number where prank calls, tee peeing, egging, or worse could take place.  You never know if you are going to have a student who you have trouble with and they want nothing more than to do something personal.  I think more times than not it doesn’t go that far, but it has in the past.  I went to high school and know how some students can be. I am going to seriously look into having my personal information changed to private.

I think right or wrong, teachers should be held to community standards in regards to their personal lives.  We are in the business of teaching and nurturing young men and women.  Parents and the community alike want to know that their kids are in good hands, and not subjected to inappropriate behavior or actions by someone as close as their teacher.  In a sense, teachers or other professions should be able to do what they like in their private time, however teachers are held to a higher standard because of the nature of the relationship with the students and community.  Teachers need to think their actions and speech all the way through because someone is always watching or searching for a “dirty little secret.”  A teacher’s speech at times is held against them but that’s part of the relationship we have with the schools, community, and people.  You can still live your life, but a person has to be a little more cognisant of what they are doing, saying, and posting.

This assignment was very interesting.  While reading the article about teachers using social networks, a point presented that really stuck out in my mind was the quote, “with any powerful tool, using technology can have positive and negative outcomes.”  I think what this was trying to say is the Internet and world of technology can be used in so many ways to enrich teaching and learning.  But like anything, if it is abused or not respected, it can become negative as well as producing dangerous outcomes.  Teachers have access to many resources that can be used to positively impact a child’s learning including social networks.  The number one thought regarding the Internet that has to be determined is if whether or not the content being posted or viewed is appropriate and useful to the child.  If the answer is no, don’t post it or have privacy settings in place for only close friends or family to see.  It takes just one student or parent to see something that in two seconds many can see and ultimately get a teacher in trouble or fired.

In closing I am going to take steps to ensure that nothing inappropriate ever gets posted on any social networks that students or parents have or can gain access to.  I am not going to live my life in fear, but I am going to be aware of what I am doing and what kind information is out there for the community to see.  I think as teachers we need to carry ourselves in a manner that is respected and compliant to the community.  We are in a position of great value and trust, and that needs to be upheld.  Nobody is perfect, but the key is to keep certain things private when it comes to life outside of school.