Computers and Online Education have become more prominent in the past 5 years than ever before. It’s important to give students the tools they need to learn; while at the same time keeping them safe, evaluating the pros/cons, and monitoring the effects of technology in the classroom. These added tools provided today’s students and teachers with more opportunity for growth and bigger responsibilities.

Main Menu: Computers in the Classroom

Promoting Safety with Computer AccessPros & Cons of Online LearningEffects of Technology in the Classroom

Click on any of the links above to see information on the specific subject matter.

Promoting Safety with Computer Access i-Safe America is a nonprofit organization out of Carlsbad,

California whose mission is to “educate and empower America’s youth to safely and responsibly use the Internet.”

$3.5 million dollars has been approved by congressional leaders to implement this safety tool in schools nation wide. i-Safe lesson plans will be delivered by teachers and are offered as a

five part program In a pilot program one student reported suspicious behavior by

their own teacher, who was then removed.

McKinley,Shay K. Campaign Promotes Safe, Responsible Internet Use for Students. 12/01/2002 from The Journalhttp://thejournal.com/articles/2002/12/01/campaign-promotes-safe-responsible-internet-use-for-students.aspx?sc_lang=en

Promoting Safety with Computer Access Proactive measures are needed as FBI statistics show that child

pornography and the sexual exploitation of children online is the most significant problem it faces!

“If you consider how many kids use the Internet, it has far surpassed the use of the telephone,” Schr’eder says. “It’s the only place where adults and children mix in the same place unsupervised.”

For more information on i-Safe America, contact (760)754-5600 or visit: i-Safe Inc

McKinley,Shay K. Campaign Promotes Safe, Responsible Internet Use for Students. 12/01/2002 from The Journalhttp://thejournal.com/articles/2002/12/01/campaign-promotes-safe-responsible-internet-use-for-students.aspx?sc_lang=en

Personal Reflection I think that there is a place in the

classroom for computers. It’s our responsibility to make sure we are preparing students for the real world. However, it’s very important to ensure we are also providing a safe learning environment.

Being proactive is the best policy when dealing with our students and possible predators. This is the biggest reason I would support a tool such as i-Safe America in my classroom.

Promoting Safety with Computer Access

A-ha Moment In the very first pilot of this i-Safe America

course a teacher was removed from the classroom. I think that says a lot for how often we are unaware of the predators around us.

I was shocked to read that one in five children receive sexual solicitations, materials, or are approached by sexual predators online and that it’s one of the FBI’s biggest problems. This is definitely an eye-opener on why a proactive education program would be needed in the schools.

Being an adult you forget the simple fears you had when you were younger. Some kids may fear computer privileges would be taken away if they told their parents about being approached online. I like that i-Safe America provides an additional outlet.

Pros & Cons of Online LearningPros: Online learning is a wondering tool for students in distant locations. Promotes open and interactive environment.

Cons: There has been little research conducted to evaluate the

effectiveness of student comprehension with online-only learning. Teachers are unable to learn the individual learning differences and

help to facilitate growth.

Online VS Classroom Education Retrieved 12/13/2009 http://www.technical-vocational-schools.com/online_classroom_learning.aspx

Pros & Cons of Online LearningSummary: There are always going to be advantages and disadvantages to

every type of teaching and learning environment. Students understand material in all different ways and as educators we should offer many methods to reach all students.

Pros & Cons of Online LearningPersonal Reflection I agree with the summary page that

most all learning methods have advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I like a classroom environment…but I do see and appreciate the online possibilities.

A-ha Moment A good point was made about how

teachers cannot recognize the differences between students online. Point well made for a con to online teaching!

Effects of Technology in the Classroom This article states that technology use allows many more students

to be actively thinking about information, making choice, and executing skills than is typical in teacher-led lessons.

Teachers are becoming more like ‘facilitators’ and guiding students through their own personal online-journey.

Students that are shy or do not excel in general topics may find great success at an online-option and lesson plans.

Per this article some teachers are seeing more motivation from kids that are excited to be on a computer and doing something that maybe their parents don’t know how to do.

Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students Retrieved 12/13/2009 http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html

Effects of Technology in the Classroom Studies show that even elementary students are gaining computer

skills that build confidence about being able to learn new tools and how to take initiative to figure out a problem on their own.

“More complex assignments” are being handed down to students and they are having success because of the technology in the classroom.

Technology in the classroom is helping to get students out of the classroom for resources. In the past, the books in a library have been the main source of resources…now students have quicker, simplistic methods of finding data for projects.

Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students Retrieved 12/13/2009 http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html

Effects of Technology in the ClassroomPersonal Reflection In the real world I see so many example

of ‘management’ just telling ‘employees’ to figure things out. I know that teaching yourself can lead to a great understanding of what it is you are doing…but with young children I still think personal, face-to-face, teacher-led lesson plans of traditional studies is the best method.

I do believe we should be integrating computers and technology into the classroom little by little. However, having students communicate and learn mostly with technology is ignorant in my eyes.

Students need to have social interaction, yearn to be outside/learn in nature, and be led down an educational path. Once they are older (past elementary level) they can have certain freedoms associated with online education.

A-ha Moment I am not a huge supporter of technology

being a main focus in the classroom. I feel that a teacher that is relying on the computer too much could easily lead to a bigger gap in racial and gender educational issues.

However, I think back to my days in elementary school when I first played with the Oregon Trail and I loved it. I was learning some basic computer skills…but I had such a since of acomplishment. I really felt good about school during those days, it’s crazy that I can remember so much about that one online experience.

Maybe I am just ‘old school’ and need to see a students face light up when they complete an assignment online. I think getting hands on experience will make me appreciate the technology in the classroom more!

Computers and technology can be a great addition to the classroom. I believe that you must first keep the students safe, keep traditional lessons the main focal point, and keep an open-mind about new technologies coming into the classroom.