Personal Framework Paper EDUC 1070, Media and Technology Corinne McKenna Concordia University

Corinne McKenna, EDUC1070-3, Personal Framework

In the educational system, there are many issues that both teachers and students need to be aware of. When technology is added to the classroom, teachers and students have an added level of awareness and ethical behavior that they need to uphold. There are social, educational, cultural/equity, and legal issues that need to be addressed in order for students and teachers to act accordingly while working with technology in the classroom. When technology is used in the classroom, students are exposed to the ever-present social networks, and there is the constant worry of whether or not they are taking full advantage of the technology or if theyre taking too much advantage of the technology. As a teacher, social networking should be used in a way that is beneficial to the students. In the Journal of Baltic Science Education, it is said that, SNW [social networks] change educational processes. However, the main question is: how change? Can they harm, or maybe on the contrary-help (2013). Social networking can be used in the classroom in order for students to become more involved with each other and with the teacher. Students can have discussions online and learn from one another. Although this is the case, students should still be monitored. It is also important for teachers to monitor how much technology is being used and how often. A log can be utilized when teachers are trying to keep accurate documentation of the technology usage in the classroom. Overall, the technology should be monitored, but also utilized to help the students grow socially while in school. Another category of issues to be aware of when considering the use of technology in schools, is the educational issues. Teachers need to keep up to date

Corinne McKenna, EDUC1070-3, Personal Framework

on practices with technologies, funding, federal requirements (in terms of progress and quality), distance learning. In order to keep up with these essential needs in school, teachers should create a system for themselves where they always have rules and requirements on hand. Teachers also need to be creative in thinking of ways to implement ways to fund technology and have their students progress through the school year. They have to stick with the rules, but use technology in a way that helps their students learn. Clearing House states, that technology should be used in a way that promotes the use of Internet-based chat, forums, and blogs as the environment in which necessary mathematical writing can occur (2012). Therefore, teachers need to think of ways in which their students will excel all while utilizing technology. Teachers need to stay fully aware of requirements, as well as changes, and they need to stay creative in the ways that they use technology to teach their students. Technology also plays into the issues of culture and equality in the classroom. Both the racial and the gender gap call for teachers to put a special focus on certain groups of students in order for achievement to be seen in all students. Teachers also need to pay close attention to students that have special needs in the classroom. Technology should be used to help these students feel like they are succeeding with their work and learning throughout the school year. When talking about special needs students, Lee and Templeton said, An embedded preliminary case study that explored how some of the education and rehabilitation agencies deliver AT services indicated that funding is the major issue, followed by lack of family participation, availability of devices, and lack of

Corinne McKenna, EDUC1070-3, Personal Framework AT qualified personnel (2008). With all of these issues within special needs students, it is necessary for teachers to work hard in order for these students to feel the whole technology impact as well. In order for teachers to give this special attention to specific groups of students, they need to stay up to date in strategies to best incorporate technologies into the classroom for struggling students. Like many of the other issues, the issues of culture and equality call for teachers to be aware and up to date on the best practices in the classroom. The last issues that teachers need to take into consideration when working with technology in the classroom is the legal and ethical issues. These issues involve plagiarism, hacking, safety on the Internet, and illegal downloads. Teachers should begin the year off by clearly outlining their expectations for their students behavior on when using any form of technology. If this is done to start off the year, then whenever any problems come up during the year, both the teacher and student know the appropriate consequences. Teachers should also be aware of technologies that they can use to help prevent students from getting into trouble. Heckler, Rice, and Bryan talk about the Turnitin system and how it can be beneficial in the educational system. They say, Findings suggest that when students were aware that their work would be run through a detection system, they were less inclined to plagiarize (2013). When teachers are implementing these kinds of systems into their classrooms, students learn what is right and what is wrong when making use of all technology. When considering all of these issues that come about from technology, it is also imperative that one looks at how theorists ideas can be applied to the

Corinne McKenna, EDUC1070-3, Personal Framework

issues. John Dewey says that teacher involvement is key to development in the classroom. Dewey believes, The teachers knowledge includes: knowing the child, individualizing the curricula (Mooney, 2013, p. 20). This statement by Dewey directly ties into social issues discussed earlier. Social networking can be used to better get to know students and for students to better get to know each other. Adding this type of technology in the classroom can add to the teachers knowledge of their students. Another theorist to consider is Lev Vygotsky. In Mooney (2013), it is said that, He [Vygotsky] believed that a child on the edge of learning a new concept can benefit from the interaction with a teacher or classmate (p. 102). This concept suggested by Vygotsky also deals with social networking and taking advantage of the Internet to help children learn. Teachers can set up sessions where students work with each other over the Internet and help each other through lessons. After looking at the issues surrounding technology being used in education, it is clear that the teacher holds much of the responsibility when making decisions about the best ways to use technology. Teachers must be aware and on top of requirements and changes going on with technology and they must know the best ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. As I continue through my schooling and once I become a teacher, I promise to adhere to these ethical and legal standards.

Corinne McKenna, EDUC1070-3, Personal Framework

Works Cited Balog, A., Pribeanu, C., Lamanauskas, V., & lekien, V. (2013). A multidimensional model for the exploration of negative effects of social networking websites as perceived by students. Journal Of Baltic Science Education, 12(3), 378-388. Cooper, A. (2012). Today's technologies enhance writing in mathematics. Clearing House, 85(2), 80-85. doi:10.1080/00098655.2011.624394 Heckler, N. C., Rice, M., & Bryan, C. (2013). Turnitin systems: A deterrent to plagiarism in college classrooms. Journal Of Research On Technology In Education, 45(3), 229-248. Lee, H., & Templeton, R. (2008). Ensuring equal access to technology: Providing assistive technology for students with disabilities. Theory Into Practice, 47(3), 212-219. doi:10.1080/00405840802153874 Mooney, C.G. (2013). An introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget, & Vygotsky. St. Paul, Minnestoa: Redleaf Press.