Learning With Diana

  Digital and Media Literacy Social media is a large part of our lives now more than ever. We learn so many new things through media whether its true or not. But, knowing how to use this media and how to interpret it is very important and important for our students to learn as well. I read an article this week by John Robinson that focuses on how Renee Hobbs' 5 competencies can help teachers teach media literacy in their classrooms and how it can support academic achievement as well. The 5 competencies are: access, analyze, create, reflect, and act.  Image Source: Media Literacy & Online Learning 5 Competencies of Media Literacy Access According to Hobbs, access is the first step in. media literacy which involves finding relevant information using media and technology tools. This is a great thing to teach students when doing research. They need to be able to have access to content they are learning or researching about through media and using tech...

                                                   What is CIPA & COPPA? Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a big federal law that protects children. The main concern that  CIPA is protecting children from is access to harmful parts of the internet. This law requires all K-12 schools to use web filters to protect their students. For schools to receive an E-rate discount they must show proof that they are using a safety policy which include blocking or filtering harmful online content. Not only must they show proof, but they also need to hold public meetings to show they are using it. Lastly, schools need to also educate their students how to use the internets in a safe way, including knowledge on cyberbullying, chat rooms, and social networking.                     ...

  Digital Tattoos? You are probably thinking of tattoos people get on their skin. A digital tattoo has the same context of a  regular tattoo. It is like a tattoo but on the internet. Digital tattoos are digital records of one's actions and communications-and they are permanent; also known as digital footprints. Data online that is used for communication or any other online actions can be traced to an individual. It is nearly impossible to control data that is online about yourself once it is made public.  Image Source: Safe Sitter My Digital Tattoo I decided to take a look into my digital tattoo. I used several sites to see what information I can gather about myself and what information of mine is out there for the world to see. I used a private mode window to be able to get accurate results for my research. You can see what information I have found about myself on each site below: Nuwber The first website I used was Nuwber . On Nuwber, I was able to find previous a...

  What is Acceptable Use of Technology? An Acceptable Use of Technology Policy (AUP) is a document with guidelines that need to be followed and agreed to by anyone who uses a company's or school district’s technological device or internet. Every school district has an AUP that students and staff need to follow. AUPs exist to make sure users are not accessing inappropriate content, being exposed to cyber threats, or distracting themselves from their responsibilities at school or work.  Image Source: UniversalCPA Why are AUPs Important? I wanted to extend my knowledge on AUPs and why they really matter, specifically in education. I read an article that discusses the importance of AUPs in schools and why they need them. Having an AUP in place is important but it is also important that the students understand what they are agreeing to. A lot of times students and parents sign things because they need to turn it in by a deadline, but do they know...

  What is privacy on social media? Usually we think of privacy as a way to keep our lives private or not sharing a lot with others. But, how do we have privacy on social media? There are millions of people around the world who have social media accounts. When making an account we need to agree to the privacy terms and conditions but do we really read them? No, we hit "agree" and move on with the account. These privacy terms are very important to understand so we know what are consenting to. Rowenna Fielding reads those terms and conditions so we don't have to.  As I was listening to a podcast about privacy on social media with Rowenna Fielding and Lorrie Cranor, a professor at Carnegie Mellon and director of CyLab Security and Privacy  Institute, they really made me think about all the apps I have downloaded on my phone or will continue to download. They discuss how social media makes their privacy terms very long and full of words we will not understand-w...

Learning With Social Media As a teacher on social media, I would not consider myself very involved with other educators. After reading a poster with the seven degrees of connectedness , I would say I am at stage 1: Lurker. I would like to be more involved on social media, but I typically am reading through what other teachers have to share and learn new ideas and activities I can use ion my own classroom. I would like to be more involved in professional learning networks (PLNs) not only for myself to learn and engage in new things but for other educators who may need extra support.  Social Benefits I have recently learned from  Torrey Trust, an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, that PLNs  support  educators in four different ways: social, effective, cognitive, and identity . Effective and  cognitive  supports are most  relevant  to me. I am always finding myself reflecting on my own teaching styles...