Mashable

I read an article today from Mashable Social Media. It relates to my earlier post about our responsibility as adults to teach and model digital citizenship (see link below). As I scanned other topics posted by this group, I realized that this is a blog that I want to follow with RSS on my Google Reader account. If you have blogs that you like to follow, try Google Reader. It's easy to use. RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication." Tools like Google Reader monitor your favorite blogs and websites for updated information. When a new post or article occur, they create a link on your page which lets you know that there's an update, and provides a link for you to read the article. I also use my Google Reader like a bookmark gathering spot. When I find a blog author that I like, rather than bookmarking the page, I add it to my Google Reader. By doing this, I don't have to remember, "Oh yeah, I liked this site... I should go check it again." Google Reader and using RSS is a great way to support your professional learning network.  Happy Collaborating!

http://mashable.com/2010/05/13/parenting-social-media/

Articles of the Week

Is Your District a Pioneer or a Settler? 

Learning Beyond Walls - 21 Skype Resources 

Is Your District a Pioneer or a Settler?

Every Teacher’s Must-Have Guide To Facebook

Twitter, Confidentiality and Our Small World

When the Cat’s Away, Web 2.0 Saves the Day

Five Stubborn Beliefs about Kids that Don't Make the Grade

50 Educational Apps for the iPod Touch

 

 

 

 

 

I Blew It Cards

Honoring innovation and the spirit of trying new things.

Each teacher will receive two "I Blew It" cards. Take risks, try new technologies.

Dream, Think, Lead, ... Act!

Confidentiality and Social Media

Building students' rapport with peers, honoring their integrity, and providing opportunities for them to grow academically, behaviorally, and socially are critical components of the teacher-student relationship. The most effective teachers expertly interweave these components into students' educational experience, all while teaching reading, mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, health, music, art, physical education, and an exhausting list of required subjects and topics.

What happens when our students leave our classrooms? When we've had a long day? When our friends and family "won't believe what happened today?" ... Are we still honoring students' and families' integrity? Ethical integrity deals with the maintenance of a person's "wholeness." While we are bound to standards of confidentiality as it relates to student records, it is the ethical integrity, or professionalism, which should guide our decisions to share a good story.

No member of the professions can

escape these ties to the community
since they constitute the very
reason for the existence of the
professions. Thus, professional
integrity begins with this necessary
responsibility to serve the
fundamental need of the community.

--- BRIG GEN MALHAM M. WAKIN, USAF, RETIRED

 

 The following articles are gentle reminders of our enormous responsibility as educators to serve students and their families with professional integrity.

Confidentiality and Our Small World

Facebook Guide for Educators

Social Media for Teachers

Digital Citizenship

I have been thinking a lot about what the term "digital citizenship" means. Some educators still are wary about social media sites such as Facebook and myspace. As the parent of two high school students, who both use social media networks such as these everyday, the responsibility of teaching these behaviors is critical. I am fortunate that my parents, my husband's parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends are "friends" with my children on these sites. They call me when they notice posts which may be inappropriate. Or, they call my children. Either way, the larger community of caring family and friends serves as observers and teachers. Avoiding these sites does not ultimately shield our children. We can have the most impact be being part of their digital community. This is the most powerful way that we can model responsible "digital citizenship."

The following article reminded me of the enormous responsibility we have in being good role models. http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/1012