Video

Website

https://sites.google.com/a/eagles.usm.edu/lauryn-h/home

Common Sense Media

     I explored both the Common Sense Media website and the app and found both to be useful for teachers and for parents, or anyone who cares for children. The website especially provides great resources for teachers, including opportunities for professional development. They provide information on ebooks and on digital resources as well as reviews that are helpful for determining whether a resource will be helpful and appropriate for use in classrooms of students at each age level. They provide other tools such as videos and posters to help teachers educate students on how to be responsible users of technology and how to stay safe on the internet.
     The app is especially good for parents and other caregivers, but is still useful for educators. It allows the user to personalize a profile based on their children and provides recommendations of age appropriate books, movies, games, and other resources. It also has a useful search feature that gives ratings on books, movies, apps, etc. I liked the rating system used because it was not limited to a few parent reviews or system of stars. Rather, it  rates in multiple categories such as violence, consumerism, educational value, etc. It also gives examples of topics that families can use in conversation about the resource. Overall, i think Common Sense Media is the best resource I have seen so far when it comes to rating children's resources and entertainment.

Response to Cyberbullying Articles

http://www.jconline.com/story/life/wellness/2014/09/23/cyberbullying-middle-school/16065229/

http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/10/teen-arrested-for-harassing-teacher-with-cyberbullying-app-streetchat.html

I read two recent articles on cyber-bullying, both highlighting ways in which this disturbing trend is expanding.  One talked about a student who is facing legal trouble after bullying a teacher over anonymous social media. The second discussed how cyber bullying is becoming more prevalent among middle school children. This terms is growing to include a larger part of the school population, now including faculty and younger students than it has before. 

     It is also becoming easier for students to post hurtful things to the internet because of apps that allow them to remain anonymous. Students can say what they want to hurt someone else, usually without facing the consequences, whether that be discipline by the school or backlash from offended peers. 

     I think one step that needs to be taken to combat this growing problem to educate students early on on what bullying is. Explain to young children what counts as bullying as well as the effects bullying can have on a person. Too often hurtful words and actions and brushed off as harmless jokes and are not identified as bullying. I think if children have a clear idea of bullying and it's effects from very early in their education, they will be less likely to act as a bully. 

     Schools should also take the steps that they can to monitor cyber bullying in the school. Any electronic devices that are distributed by the school should come with rules against apps that encourage cyber bullying. Personal devices should be stored or monitored, so that students are using them for school purposes and not to post harmful content. 

Podcasts

     The first podcast I listened to had to do with student motivation. The speakers urged teachers to work to motivate students rather than expecting students to walk into class motivated. They argued that there are no students without motivation, only students in demotivating situations who need help finding their motivation. it encouraged teachers to get to know their students as people. Take notice of student interests and be aware of student backgrounds. Teachers should not think of themselves as teachers of math or English but as teachers of people, putting the students before the subject or tests. Teachers should create a welcoming environment and help students imagine bright futures for themselves so that they can find motivation even if they come from places or families that drain motivation.
     The second podcast I listened to was to inform people on the state of poverty, education, and girls in schools across the globe as well as how to interpret and predict statistics on such issues. Though the majority of the talk was just statistics, it caught my interest because of the emphasis on global education and education for peoples across the world who do not have the same access to quality education that we do. Though the statistics were not all good, in general they seem to be improving with time.
     To my surprise, I very much enjoyed learning this information through listening to podcasts. I enjoy traditional media and would have liked sitting down to read an article with the same information, but the podcast gave me freedom to do other things while becoming informed. It is a lot easier to exercise, do dishes, or go about my morning routine while listening to a podcast than it is to do those same things while reading an article. That being said, I feel as though I learn more through reading than listening to a podcast on the same issue. Because I have the freedom to do other things, all of my attention is not focused on listening and I miss details. I think I will use podcasts to supplement other learning, but they will not replace written articles in my life.