Quiz 1 - October 2nd, 2010 EDU 615

1. Why should a school district have a website?  What should be on the website?

The two primary functions of a website, in my opinion, are as a vehicle for promoting your school and as a tool to share pertinant information with the community.  As has been discussed in our class, the responsibility to promote the local school district is paramount.  Be it to build public support for a project, attract possible families and students to the school, or even as a recruitment device for future employees, the school's website will often serve as that critical first impression for a school.  Secondly, a good website should serve as a provider of information for the public.  From the school lunch menu to upcoming events to the dissemination of test data, the website can serve as a great tool for people to stay connected to their local district.

As to the contents of the website, there are many things that I feel are essential; most notable among them is that it be kept current!  A website with outdated information appears shoddy, unprofessional, and reflects poorly on the district.  Obviously upcoming events, handbooks, links to teacher websites, and pictures of students and their activities are all components of an effective website.  Also, a teacher's page which provides links to the electronic copies of important school documents is important.

2. How do administrators and school boards keep a current vision of technology and the future?

Obviously each school must have a vision for the future, and any vision that is not integrally related to technology is doomed from the onset.  Probably the biggest key in meeting this vision is also the answer most often stated as weaknesses by various districts; and that is professional development.  There is no way that anyone, much less a busy school administrator or school board member, can be expected to just know about the changes in technology.  As has so often been mentioned, our world and the pace of technology is growing exponentially, so the need to stay up to date and be educated is of the utmost importance.  Whether it is through the investment of money or time, school leaders must commit the resources to professional development both with themselves and their staffs.

3. What information from the CEO Forum website is most useful?  How can that information be used?

For me personally, the STaR Chart was the most beneficial part of the CEO Forum.  The STaR chart served as an excellent tool to identify a district's strengths and weaknesses in the broad field of technology.  I see that information being useful in a variety of capacities.  Everything from educating the public on school needs to identifying the critical ways in which the school needs to focus their technology investment in order to improve learning.  But most significantly, the STaR Chart could serve as a baseline for the district's technology committee (and then for the administration and school board) as it develops a vision for how to best invest it's precious resources to meet future needs.  As one might guess, the investment in many schools, as indicated by completion of the STaR chart, should probably shift from heavy financial commitments in hardware to providing on-going professional development for staff so that they can use the already existing hardware more effectively for the students.

4. What are Web 2.0 tools?  How can these tools be used by schools to enhance classroom instruction?

Web 2.0 tools include things like Wiki Pages, blogs, and podcasts.  The distinguishing characteristic of the Web 2.0 tools is the ability it gives users to be interactive with others.  While earlier 1.0 versions were great ways for individuals to access data and ride the "information superhighway", the 2.0 tool truly gives people from all over the globe the ability to connect with one another.  This level of universal interaction moves the way that information is shared, and the speed of that collaboration, into an entirely new realm.  Blogs and Wikis allow like-minded individuals to connect in ways that even a decade ago would not have been thought of and has "personalized" the internet in ways previously not even imagined.

The possibilities that this brings to the classroom are endless.  While the 1.0 tools brought an unheard amount of information to the students' fingertips, the 2.0 version brings the information to life!  The interactive component of 2.0 increases student engagement and motivation in classroom activities tremendously.  What was once "just another report" now becomes an on-line chat and debate.  Instead of listening to only the assertive and outgoing students share ideas and thoughts, now the more reflective and introverted student has an opportunity to show classmates and teachers their knowledge base and values.  While information/education is power, the ability to use that information to exert influence is what leads to real power and success in today's world.  The 2.0 tools expands the ability for all learners to express themselves in a group setting.

5. What is CyberBullying?  What can schools do to help prevent CyberBullying?

Throw away all computers and destroy all cell phones, pagers, I-pods, etc!  Obviously that is not a serious answer.  Sadly, CyberBullying is just an electronic extension of what bullying has always been, and that is a form of harrassment that demeans and threatens our children.  The difference between CyberBullying and what we may consider traditional bullying is frightening because there is no escape from CyberBullying in today's world.  As connected as we all are, students are subjected to the harassment even in what should be the safety of their own homes.  Also, CyberBullying is more dangerous in that the sheer volume of harassers can be expanded because of the nature of electronic communications and the ability to spread gossip, compromising pictures, etc. so rapidly. 

As far as preventing it, there is no cure.  However, like all bullying, the best recipe involves a combination of empathy building and education.  It is critical that we try to build empathy between the bully and the victim by making them understand the pain and hurt that they are causing.  Also, we must educate young people on not only ways to avoid being targets, but also about the technology itself so that they understand the "permanent" nature of all electronic messaging and how those words or pictures almost never disappear.