Cyberspace & Beyond

October is National Cyber Security Safety Month. As I sat down to write this article the theme song for TV series The Twilight Zone zapped into my brain and I couldn’t get it out of my head. What does that have to do with Technology? Well, I think that if we sat back and watched the re-runs it is one way to explain Cyberspace. Cyberspace is another dimension that our children are growing up to discover. It is a dimension of audio and video. It is only limited by our imagination
These children are becoming adults. They get on the internet to search for information, movies, books, and music. Just about everything can be found on the internet. They think nothing of ordering an item and putting their credit card number along with other personal information on these websites. But how safe is it? How secure is that information?
There are some secure sites that keep our information safe. The browsers like Explorer and others have some built in safe measures for your protection. When you go to a site to order items, you might get a popup that occurs telling you that the site is secure or isn’t secure. If you look at the bottom right corner of the browser window you might notice a padlock. This indicates a secure site.
When I started purchasing items online, I did some research. I wanted a company that I knew was reputable. I started with JC Penney. I had a credit card with them, so I knew that I would be able to keep track of my purchases and would know if there was a charge that I didn’t make. I went to the website and I created an account. I read their security agreement. I could shop and put things in my cart and then login for the ordering portion.  They were picky about the password that I had to use. It had to have 6 characters and I needed to use letters, numbers, or symbols. I couldn’t use anything that would have any part of my name in the password. I had to have email address so that they could send me my account information. By doing this they are protecting themselves and me.
I suggest that if you are going to shop online you choose a reputable company. One that you are already shopping either in their store or by phone, that you have a credit card. That way you can keep track of your purchases. It should always offer you a way to cancel or confirm your order. You should always print the confirmation number out so that you have a hard copy. Then if you have a problem, you can use it with the company’s customer service department if needed. I prefer to use a company that requires a secret question or a site key phrase. This is another way of checking that your account and company is reputable. When ordering or using online bill pay; always use caution, READ all the information available, choose a company that is reputable, and always check your bill.  Don’t give out your information unless you are absolutely sure the company is reputable.

I hope that his helps you technology immigrants (ages from 30 to above – like me) understand and determine if your data . My goal is to provide others with the skills for critical thinking needed to determine if information is correct and credible in “this world and beyond”.

Electronic Textbooks

I just got back from a conference where many of us had our laptops, iPods, iPads, and smart Phones. There were about 50 people there and the network was a little slow. This was with about 1/2 the people using digital devices. We had to be patient. Not being sure of the connection, I took my notes with pen and paper in this huge 3-ring binder that I have organized for this professional organization. My working tote was larger than my overnight bag.

My youngest son is in college. He gives me a hard time about doing my work the old way with pen and paper. He says, "And you do technology? Mother, you use 2 laptops, an iPod, and a cellphone. You don't need all that other stuff."

My response has always been, "I just want to be sure I have everything I need." My thoughts are that there is a difference between a digital native, my son who has grown up with technology, and an immigrant to technology, myself who while in high school during the 70's used a typewriter. He tells me that soon there won't be any textbooks to put in book bags. He claims that they will all be on line or digital CD/DVD and that they will fit in your hand easily.

I have been reading about how the students in the 21st Century are going all digital. The LA Times internet site has an article in the Sunday, Aug 1, 2010 about a seventh grader who downloaded "The Elements: A Visual Exploration" on her iPad. She called the e-book "a breath of fresh air" compared to her classroom chemistry textbook. (Doug Benz / For The Times).

Why was it so much better? It was full of interactive, engaging activities. There were videos and photos that made the book seem real. She could click on links to get more information or that would take her further into the scientific elements she was studying. She could rotate the images with the touch of her finger. The sound, animated photos and graphics along with clicking on links of the internet made her classroom book come alive. Earlier that evening she had downloaded the book with the idea that she it would put her right to sleep. Before she new it  she had been reading and investigating for three hours and it was past her bedtime.

I thought that was AWESOME! As an educator, I am all about getting my students engaged and being investigators. I am willing to teach using several different medias and strategies. My goal has always been to find the key to unlock llife long learning in my students. I see my role changing from one where I know the content and most of the answers to one where I am learning right along side my students using online materials and digital devices. Am I ready to read a book on my computer or iPod or an  iPad? If I'm going to be successful in the 21st Century, I need to get started.

Resources for Digital Devices

There are tons of digital devices available for us to use in our busy lives. I'm not sure that all of these make life easier. I'm not even sure that some of them take less time. I also know that my budget can't afford all these new devices. I do know that I love gadgets!

You know what they say about boys and their toys. Something like; the boys get bigger and so do the toys. Well, so does the price tag.

I have subscribed to a list serve called Diigo Groups. My purpose was to try and keep informed about mobile digital devices. I receive an email daily from Daily updates in Group iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch Users Group.  In the email are links to websites and articles about how these devices are used. There are some great ideas for using them in education. When I read or find one that is particularly interesting and educational useful, I pass it on to the teachers in my district.

You can subscribe to this group for Free. Get a free Diigo account at diigo.com. Choose "My Groups". Then search for iPods, iPads, or the name of your device. Click on the link that interest you. then click the "Join this group" button on the right hand side of the page. There are other reasons to join Diigo, but that is another story.

A Digital World; A Digital School?

The teachers at HTRS realize that we need to teach our 21st Century Students using technology. We know that our students are living in a digital world. These technology natives do not learn like must of us who are teaching now did. The 21st Century Students use technology in their daily lives. They want to be engaged using the tools that they use on a daily basis. Watch this video and listen to the 21st Century Students.



The Table Rock site teachers have received their new MacBooks. I am busy attending ESU4 workshops on Macs, Google and Web 2.0 tools. Apple will provide training on iWorks with the staff on August 17th and 18th from 8:30 to 3:30. Kim Standerford will be helping me with Technology at the Table Rock site.

Another exciting piece of technology is a classroom set of 18 iPod Touches. This intriguing device will be in a special iPod case. The iPods will have internet access with filtering enabled. These will be available for teacher checkout through Kim Standerford. Teachers will be required to checkout the whole set. Kim will take care of downloading apps, charging, and synching the iPods. Teachers will need to return the set to Kim at the end of the day.

Writing Ideas

Students are already computer natives and are more willing to write when they can use a computer.  They probably have been using some form of technology from birth. Students just grow-up using technology. They have learned how to choose music from specialized toys and play video games almost before they learn to walk and tie their shoes.

I teach students how to use Word, or the word processing program that is on their computers at the beginning of the year, or the word processing program that is on their computers at the beginning of the year. I teach them how to setup a document with a font, font size, margins, etc. Then we type a paragraph. We use that paragraph to learn to edit a document.

I also try to incorporate other subjects into my computer classes. I have students type their spelling words, paragraphs, and sometimes I have them do journal writing.


Gaggle is a great student email program and it is FREE. Student’s emails are monitored and setup by the teacher. If a student writes a questionable email it is sent to the teacher. Students can use this to attach assignments to the teacher. This can be a great way to get students started using an electronic classroom learning program.

I begin writing activities after students have been doing keyboarding for 5 to 6 weeks. I use 6 Strait Writing to teach students about writing.  I begin with an introduction to all the traits. Then using the table as a guide I teach them about a topic, a topic sentence, and supporting details which are the legs. The table can’t stand without the legs and the legs have to be attached to a topic and topic sentence.

Then student are ready to begin writing paragraphs. I give them a topic and topic sentence in an outline form. They list the supporting detail. I give them a concluding statement. Once the outline is done, they write the paragraph which includes all the information in the outline. I don’t worry about conventions until later. We can sometimes spend a week on this one paragraph. I also use it to teach voice. Students already have the topic and idea so they can work on creating their own voice.

I also have students write a personal narrative. I give them an outline of information that I want them to include in the autobiography. They fill in the information and then write the sentences. I have them draw a portrait and bring a photo. They then create a poster about themselves.

I also like to have students read and reflect on their reading. Students can reflect on a paragraph, a magazine article, or a chapter in a book. I think that book reports are boring. I try to have the students jazz them up using powerpoint and a template that I provide for an electronic book report. Students are given 8 index cards. Each card contains information that they would include in the presentation, title, main characters, plot, solution, and conclusion.  One slide gives their option of the book. Each slide must contain text and a graphic. The final slide contains information on where they got their graphics.

Animal Cards is another writing activity that I have done. I have had a subscription to ZooBooks for the past 3 years. My niece sold magazines and I just had to buy something. The students enjoy this magazine that features an animal a month. I decide to use them and the computer to create an animal card that contains information on a specific animal. Students choose an animal using the ZooBooks. Students collection information about that animal using the magazine and two internet sites. The information must contain: Animal Kingdom, Habitat, Diet, Species, and 3 other interesting facts. I give students a powerpoint slide template and they enter the information in the appropriate location. Students then go to our districts WorldBook Online or Wikipedia websites and find a photograph of the animal. Once they have completed the slide, they share it with another student. They then revise the information and print out the final copy. These are then displayed and students share the information with the rest of the class. These cards are then collected into a booklet format to share with other classes.

There are some other activities that I have done using the computer on my website: http://manila.esu4.org

Technology in the Classroom

Are you searching for ideas for how to use technology in your classroom? You are at the right place. Here are a few ideas that others have shared. Some are from our regional ESU4 staff development personel, others are from the internet, and some are my own.