module 5

I would say for the most part I have control by authority in my classroom. The kids can’t get on sites that aren’t approved by the tech dept. and when they go on sites that they aren’t supposed to then they lose technology privileges for  a day or so, but I also use technology for reinforcement when they are on task, do something extra special, and so on I reward them with free technology time. This is still controlled to a point but they don’t see it that way they just know they get to play a game online and since the sites they know how to get to most of the time is still some sort of learning site.

I think I have an easier time with this than say middle school and high school teachers, since we don’t have the issues of students having cell phones or iPod/iPad on them in class. Though dealing with teenagers in my personal life and along with at extra curriculum events. I see where it is a problem.

I have watched them attempt to be doing homework or with those helping younger kids with the Lego team, and their phone will make a sound and that becomes the new focus.  I do believe that “some” control is needed with the technology in a classroom, I think the students should be allowed to have their cell phone on them for emergencies, but it needs to be put away when it is not needed for an emergency.

Our school system is changing out Wi-Fi for the purpose of the students being able to connect to the Wi-Fi and that way the school has some control over what they can do.  Some sites that are questionable are blocked in the buildings so they wouldn’t be able to connect to them.     I like that the teacher has the ability to shut down the devices when they want their attention.  I know one teacher who if he sees the students on their device he ask them what they are researching and they have to instantly write down the website and a paragraph about what they said they were looking up.

In my classroom, the students use the smart TV where I pull up a site for them to work on using smarttech website so I can pick the lesson I want them to work on. This is they are really good about doing the work but it is a big screen TV that everyone can see what they are doing. Then I have a Promethean table which again I usually pull up an icon for them to use, this they usually end up either get done with and attempt to find their own app to use, or say there are “done” and try to change it. I have 4 students’ station computers in the class which they use for math or reading station.  This is the one that I have the most problem with; they will go on a site that is not reading or math. Most of the time another student will inform me loudly that someone is not on a reading or math site and then I can correct it. I am trying to work on a way to make the computer time more accountable.

I don’t know that I would get to self-control due to 6 and 7 year olds don’t have much concept of self-control. I think just making them understand the reason for using the technology and knowing the consequences of using it improper is the first step and hopefully they will carry that understanding with them through their school years.