Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

With the internet becoming used more in classrooms, it is important to educate students and parents about not just the good, but also the bad things that are out there. One of the bad things that was happening with children under the age of thirteen was they were giving out their personal information online. When children do this, it can lead to dangerous situations. Therefore, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) was passed in October 1998 to help protect children from giving out personal information to unknown sources online.
If I were to have my students make a website, create a wiki, or some other kind of online teaching tool, I would review with them the importance of not posting personal information. I would create a list for the students that would cover what personal information they are not allowed to post. The COPPA gives these guidelines that students are not to post online; a first and last name, a home or other physical address including street name and name of a city or town, an e-mail address, a telephone number, or a social security number to name a few. As a teacher, I would make sure my students understood all of the guidelines. We would go over what is appropriate and what is not.
I feel parents are also a key player in making sure their children do not post any personal information online. Teachers can only do so much from school. Home is where most of the students would be getting into chat rooms. I would raise awareness to parents about this topic. I would also give the parents a check list of what should not be posted online. This way they will be educated, as well as their children.

Preparing Our Students for the 21st Century

Preparing students for the 21st Century is going to look a little different for teacher then it has in the past. "Teachers must willingly embrace new teaching and learning opportunities" and technology plays a large role in that. With all of the new technology that is available to teachers and students, the classroom is going to change. Teachers must "provide students with the skills they will need to excel in a technology-rich society"(p.11). These skills include "creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, and communications and collaboration"(p.14).
Schools know how important it is to keep their students up to speed with new technology. This is shown through the addition of technology standards for students, teachers, and administrators. So, in order for students to stay on the cutting edge of technology, the teachers will have to as well.
Schools are seeing that students today are "digital students." Their brains have "become rewired to accommodate the thousands of hours they spend in front of computer screens..."(p.15). Therefore, the students of the 21st century will need to be prepared for a world of technological advances and learn how to use that to their advantages.

Shelly, G.B., Cashman, T.J., Gunter, R.E., & Gunter, G.A.(2008)Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Thomson Course Technology.


If you would like to listen to this...here it is.

Gabcast! Tech class #2

Using technology in the classroom

I think it is great when teachers can incorporate technology in their classroom. I can remember when I was in third grade and we had just gotten four new computers in our room. I was so excited when my teacher would let me type out one of the stories I had written. As I have gotten older, technology has really evolved into an everyday necessity for me. I am still learning new things every day.
When I am a teacher I am going to use technology as much as I can in my classroom. I see it as another way to get students excited about learning. If anyone knows of a great site that has info about technology I would love to hear about it.


If you would like to listen to it as a pod cast...here you go.

Gabcast! Tech class #1