connecting the nets

The Nets.s and Nets.t are closely aligned in that a teacher would really have to use both sets of nets to create a lesson. The nets t helps the teacher plan for instruction in a the digital age and the nets s helps them plan for student outcomes and expectations in a digital age.

Cyberbullying

Being in the library, have seen cyber bullying happen in our school many times. In fact our library system allows students to "friend" each other so you can see what your friends are reading. As the administrator I monitor and have to approve all activity including friending and messaging between the students. At first they were using it as Facebook and I have to stop many, many messages and had to call several student down to have the cyber bullying talk with them. Once the students figured out I was monitoring it the inappropriate comments stopped. I know they still exist in other virtual world though. I was really happy to see our district create a module about cyber bullying we had to take our students through as part of them learning to live in a digital world. They got to see real life experiences of students who were both hurt and others who were punished because of cyber bullying. The class discussion (at least with my students) seemed to really open their eyes to the dangers of this as well as the consequences. I think we need to continue to promote digital communication and teach the students the appropriate ways to do that.

Unpacking the NETS

I thought the process of unpacking the NETS was useful in that it really did help to take them from theory to practice. This happened when I had to come up with a practical description of the teacher using them in the classroom at different levels of implementation.

NETS-A

Our group meet to discuss this journal entry, because we are unsure of how to complete our personal action plans for this section. We are not sure how teachers can affect the outcome of NET-A, as teachers we feel that is developed at the administration level.

However, I feel that as teachers prove the value and worth of using technology integrated in their classrooms, the administration hopefully will evaluate the nets-a Excellence in Professional Practice Educational and promote an environment of professional learning and
innovation that empowers educators to enhance student learning through the infusion of contemporary technologies and digital resources. Sometimes the administrations needs proof that things work before they are willing to create an environment that supports trying out new things.

NETS in Action

I think one of the most powerful connections I see in the NETS (all 3 levels) is administrators expecting to see some of the NETS from teachers and students, as well as the teacher's writing lessons plans that support their use of the Nets and their expectation of the students use of them. I can't think of a better way to demonstrate that then to share my Digital Life Story again.

http://animoto.com/play/vMMxEgas1sHFyX33aINHHw

Essential conditions

I really enjoyed looking my districts technology use, implementation, and planning through the essential conditions rubric.  Currently I use education technology daily as a library media specialist to assist student, deliver instruction to teacher and students, and as a way to promote reading (I play a loop of student created booktrailers on a tv in the library).  I will continue to evaluate my own use of technology by looking at the essential conditions rubric. 

What does RecycleReading mean?

Libraries of course!!!  We are the ultimate recyclers... of reading.  Read, Turn in, Check Out, Read, Turn in, Check Out, REPEAT!!!  When the economy is poor, people turn to us for more than answers.  They are looking for ways to save money.  What a better way than to check out a book and not have to buy it!!  The last year, I added 25 parents and community members as patrons.  Am I worried about getting those materials back?  Sure, but I would rather pay for a missing book in exchange for their free advertisement and support of our libraries.  I actually had parents come to me saying, "Ms. so and so told me that we can check out books from you too???"  Hmmm... I sure hope they don't feel like our schools are that isolated from the community.  I also had our cafeteria ladies come in an ask for help after a long day in the cafeteria.  I never thought in a middle school library I would be looking up how to change a timing belt on a 1994 Ford, but I did.  She came in two days later and asked if she could check out books for her younger daughter.  We truly can be the most effective, powerful, collaborative places in a community.