Here is what I have been thinking about more lately now that the school year is almost done. I am thinking of my workplace: the students and colleagues; I am also thinking about the community: the parents. What I have been confused in really looking at my school is the inconsistency of technology usage. This is something teachers should be coming together to talk about on what they are doing in their classrooms and find a stigma and structure. (You have been warned, but I am going to talk about myself).
For example, I teach 4th and 5h grade science and I have worked so hard in digital citizenship and digital literacy with my students to where I know what they know and HOPE they bring to English, History and Math classes. However, I also hope this trend continues on into middle school.
But what I am seeing, is no consistency.
I'm seeing students in the hallway during lunch and recess dying to play some sort of game on their device and tell all teachers who pass them in the hallway when asked "what are you doing" and the student replies with "finishing my homework" is not going to cut it. As a community school, all of the teachers shouldn't walk another step until that student puts that device and "FREE PLAY" away. (Here's another but)
BUT, they don't they continue on walking because "finishing homework" sounds like a legitimate excuse.
No one else is stepping in and saying "hey, its recess/lunch time and you need to go on the yard and play" ---there conversation done. Those students are reminded that the device isn't a free for all and is only supposed to be used in the classroom.
I can't tell you enough how many times I have warned my students on how they are only to use their device at school appropriately. I have said this enough to where my 5th grade rock stars truly understand what that means.
I hope that the trend of staying consistent will not only be helpful for me, but for everyone. We're a team right?
For example, I teach 4th and 5h grade science and I have worked so hard in digital citizenship and digital literacy with my students to where I know what they know and HOPE they bring to English, History and Math classes. However, I also hope this trend continues on into middle school.
But what I am seeing, is no consistency.
I'm seeing students in the hallway during lunch and recess dying to play some sort of game on their device and tell all teachers who pass them in the hallway when asked "what are you doing" and the student replies with "finishing my homework" is not going to cut it. As a community school, all of the teachers shouldn't walk another step until that student puts that device and "FREE PLAY" away. (Here's another but)
BUT, they don't they continue on walking because "finishing homework" sounds like a legitimate excuse.
No one else is stepping in and saying "hey, its recess/lunch time and you need to go on the yard and play" ---there conversation done. Those students are reminded that the device isn't a free for all and is only supposed to be used in the classroom.
I can't tell you enough how many times I have warned my students on how they are only to use their device at school appropriately. I have said this enough to where my 5th grade rock stars truly understand what that means.
I hope that the trend of staying consistent will not only be helpful for me, but for everyone. We're a team right?