There's an upside and a serious downside to monitoring students in social media, and the upside doesn't involve outsourcing (that was an understatement). You'll see what I'm talking about when you get to the downside down there, but let's start with where and how it would actually help.… In her thoughtful commentary, "What inner city kids know about social media, and why we should listen," … [Read more...] about Students in social media: There’s monitoring & then there’s monitoring
School & Tech
Why kids need more, not less, play
A lightbulb went on when I read "Learning for a World of Constant Change" by authors John Seely Brown and Douglas Thomas. I think I understand now why there's so much cognitive dissonance at the intersection of new media and learning, not to mention "online safety." It has a lot to do with how media has changed, and parents and educators are still trying to catch up. Media is no longer just … [Read more...] about Why kids need more, not less, play
Digital media’s power for all kinds of good: One student’s story
Rarely do we hear stories about how playing in digital environments in school – much less playing a popular videogame not originally designed for school – can be life-changing in a good way. So here's one (names in the story have been changed to protect everybody's privacy): For four years, starting in 2008, when he was in middle school, "Zach" participated in the WoWinSchool Club every day … [Read more...] about Digital media’s power for all kinds of good: One student’s story
Addendum: What about CIPA?
US educators may wonder if schools can adopt the model I'm proposing above and still be compliant with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Here's my answer: If you're asking "What about CIPA?", you're probably a school administrator or district official in the US, and it's a good question. In order for US schools (and libraries) to receive federal "e-rate" discounts for Internet … [Read more...] about Addendum: What about CIPA?
Cyberbullying in grades 3-5: Important study
Rare is the opportunity to get insights into cyberbullying in elementary school because most US research has focused on youth aged 12 and up. The Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC) really delivered by surveying a huge sample – more than 11,700 – 3rd, 4th and 5th graders three times over a year and a half, and I believe the results clearly demonstrate the need for social-emotional … [Read more...] about Cyberbullying in grades 3-5: Important study