WebQuests

During our final in class session, and again as part of our small group work, we had the chance to check out several sites dedicated to educational webquests. Some of them were good, but many of them were nothing more than worksheets with a couple of links on them. I found that to be frustrating. I have found some really fun, interactive webquests to use with my students. I use them to reinforce topics and to get them engaged in their learning. An online worksheet just isn't going to cut it with my students. I have been wanting to create my own webquests, but as with most great ideas, I haven't had time to follow through. I did find a couple of templates and webquest builder sites, so that may just be the motivation I need to actually create one.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying! It has been a very timely subject. This week I had a student come to me because she is being harrassed. The harrassment comes in the form of text messages, phone calls and comments in the hallways between classes. Of course some teen, "love triangle" drama is at the center of it. After hearing more about the story, I found out that the whole thing started because one of the girls had a "boyfriend" that she chatted with in a chat room. He lives in NY. Apparently, another freshman girl from our school also started chatting with him and claims him as her boyfriend. It gets better... The boy is actually 19. The whole thing just keeps getting crazier and more people are getting involved. I can't help thinking that this wouldn't have been an issue 10 years ago. One thing is certain. Chat rooms and cell phones aren't going anywhere, so parents and schools need to come up with ways to educate kids to prevent these situations.

Social Networking in Education

While looking for an article to read on the topic of social networking in education, I was struck by the lack of current materials on this topic. Most of them were from 2006. This seems incredible to me. At a time when kids are becoming more technologically savvy at increasingly younger ages, one would think the topic would be discussed much more frequently. I notice as a teacher and as a parent, that children as young as 3rd grade are getting involved with social networking sites and are dependent on them for much of their social communication. On the up side, kids are able to develop relationships with other kids from all around the world and broaden their knowledge of different cultures. On the other hand, they are exposed to opportunist, who aren't what they seem. I won't continue down that road since that side of the topic is covered on every network news program and media source out there.

From the stand point of education, I find my students interested in reading and writing because of their social networking connections. Kids who would never dream of reading a book, or writing a multiple paragraph essay are happily reading each other's profiles, updates and the like, while creating them for their own pages. Without knowing it, they are practicing their reading and writing. One may argue that the writing on these venues is not good writing, but I would counter, that if they are making their thoughts and opinions understood, then there is value in the form of expression.