Local students seem to be leading one life within school, (which includes things like school monitored computers and internet usage) and another life outside of school where cell phones, personal internet and email are allowed all the time. One of the big issues facing education is that we are wrapping students in a bubble with technology and not allowing them to interact and learn to use appropriately the technology that is used outside of school.
One of the largest challenges is that we are waiting until high school to address some of the interaction concerns and by that time, there are students already taking advantage of internet usage, specifically social media. As teachers are trying to work with students and allow them to learn about social media and interacting online, there are now cries of bullying occurring everywhere. Before it was just a physical style of bullying, but now students are taking to the web and the school has to have a handle on how to deal with those issues. We cannot always lock the internet down and show that this is the best way to deal with the issues that are coming up.
I believe that we must start working with kids in elementary school in the understanding of the way that the internet works and what some of the effects of online usage are, both with long hours in front of devices, but also the social media aspect. If kids (and adults) don't have an understanding of their digital footprints online, there could be sever consequences for them later in life.
One of the largest challenges is that we are waiting until high school to address some of the interaction concerns and by that time, there are students already taking advantage of internet usage, specifically social media. As teachers are trying to work with students and allow them to learn about social media and interacting online, there are now cries of bullying occurring everywhere. Before it was just a physical style of bullying, but now students are taking to the web and the school has to have a handle on how to deal with those issues. We cannot always lock the internet down and show that this is the best way to deal with the issues that are coming up.
I believe that we must start working with kids in elementary school in the understanding of the way that the internet works and what some of the effects of online usage are, both with long hours in front of devices, but also the social media aspect. If kids (and adults) don't have an understanding of their digital footprints online, there could be sever consequences for them later in life.