Citizenship
Wow, I am feeling like our school district is really behind the eight ball. I have served on an online learning subcommittee for our district for the last two years. This committee was set up to explore student e-mail accounts among other things. I felt like we spun our wheels, especially the second year. We basically started all over again addressing the question of whether students need a school e-mail address or not. It was determined that because of requirements to archive e-mails and the costs associated with this, we have decided to put this on hold. We further explored Google Apps for Education. We are going on our third year of discussing these issues.
Wow, I am feeling like our school district is really behind the eight ball. I have served on an online learning subcommittee for our district for the last two years. This committee was set up to explore student e-mail accounts among other things. I felt like we spun our wheels, especially the second year. We basically started all over again addressing the question of whether students need a school e-mail address or not. It was determined that because of requirements to archive e-mails and the costs associated with this, we have decided to put this on hold. We further explored Google Apps for Education. We are going on our third year of discussing these issues.
Today I came across the following video:
It seems like we are really behind, even though we hired a consulting firm to create a framework for education for the 21st century, we seem to move at a snails pace toward this. I am not really sure why. There seems to be a lot of discussion but not a lot of action. The online learning subcommittee is scheduled to meet this Monday. I am curious to know if we will actually be able to get something done this year. We are certainly getting a late start.
As stated in the Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds book (p.99) digital citizenship begins with access. This not only includes access to hardware but also software and networks (both online and offline). Sixty-one of the top 100 schools are using Google Apps. Over ten million students are using Google Apps for Education. Many students are currently using Google docs and G-mail but not under Google Apps for Education. I don't think this is the most efficient way to communicate or collaborate. I feel strongly that this should be under the Google Apps for Education program.I think this program supports digital citizenship and gives teachers the opportunity to explore this in a safe environment.
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