After thinking more about the subject and evaluating both sides I believe that it is more unethical to deny students/teachers access to instructional-relevant Web-based tools and content. It is our job as educators to provide students with adequate instruction. With the encouragement of the integration of technology into the classroom, denying teachers the use of certain websites and videos is making it impossible to do this effectively. As long as the websites being accessed are educational appropriate, I feel they should be accessible. With that being said, it is the school and teachers responsibility to monitor, provide, and demonstrate to students how to properly use the internet.
When I was in high school each student was provide with his/her own laptop. When we received the laptops we were provided with demonstration and instructions on what we were allowed and not allowed to do. We also received a list of websites that we were not allowed to access. Of course there were a share of students who violated the rules and had their computer taken but for the most part they were extremely useful.
Technology is continuing to enhance and change our lives each and every day. Through the use of smart boards, computers, and gaming websites technology in the school system is evolving. Cellphones and Ipods will soon become another way to integrate and enhance technology in the school system. These new types of technology were once banned from schools, but now at many schools students are allowed to possess the devices just aren't allowed to use them. Even though these devices are still not being used in schools, I feel that in time these rules will change. This shows that cellphones are becoming more acceptable over time. Instead of looking at the negative aspect of these tools in the school system there are ways we can make this a positive step towards the integration of technology. In Knox county a group of local youth is proposing changes to their school system's cell phone policy, among which would allow high school students to use the devices during school."The culture is changing and (phones) are becoming a larger part of life" (Alapo, 2010). Because cellphones are becoming more appropriate for educational use these students feel these tools will be a benefit.
Ipods are now also being allowed in the school system. In Roswell Georgia students are now allowed to use this device in history class. As stated in the article, “Five years ago iPods were banned, but we got overwhelmed with trying to discipline kids and fight the technology,” says Edward Spurka, we’ve allowed all those resources out in the world to be on their person (Manzo, 2010).” All and all I feel that these tool are something that will only benefit each student. Why fight the use of new technology in the school system. This is something we should embrace.
Alapo, L. (2010). Group purposing allowing cellphone use in school. Retrieved from
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/apr/22/group-proposes-allowing-cell-phone-use-in-school/
Gunter, G. A., Gunter, R. E., & Shelly, G.B. (2010). Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom (6th ed.). United States: Course Technology, Cengage Learning.
Manzo, K. K. (2010). Educator embrace Ipods for learning. Retrieved from
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/03/18/26ipods.h29.html
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/03/18/26ipods.h29.html
How awesome that your school provided access to technology to every student. It's important because not every student has access to computers outside of the computer labs at the school. I also liked that you were taught some ethics to go along with your privilege. That to me is an important piece to the puzzle. All students should have access, but with great power comes great responsibility. I also liked that consequences were given to those who did not prove themselves to be trustworthy.
ReplyDeleteAs awesome it is to be given a laptop to use, I also feel that the school itself needs to stay current. It might be a lot easier to share youtube videos or other information found on the web if educators had access to the most up to date technologies in order to make use of the wealth of information available that is currently restricted or blocked from classrooms.