If your kids are too young for Facebook, or you're concerned about privacy, consider looking into some lesser-known social networking sites geared for tweens, preteens, and yes, even teenagers.
Article on digital citizenship by Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis in March/April 2010 edition of Learning & Leading with Technology Magazine. Reviews current Flat Classroom Projects as well.
10 Tips to Keep Kids Safe in a Web 2.0 World [pdf]
Designed for teachers and produced by the staff at Nettrekker, this 14-page document is a free download.
Cyber-ethics is the discipline of using appropriate and ethical behaviors and acknowledging moral duties and obligations pertaining to online environments and digital media. Part of the C3 Matrix developed by IKeepSafe for Digital Citizenship Education.
Facebook can ruin your life. And so can MySpace, Bebo... - News, Gadgets & Tech - The Independent
"Millions of people are leaving personal information online, much of which is cached and remains available via search engines even after the author has removed the web page... When people who are not the original intended audience – such as potential employers – find this information, it can have a major impact on their decision making process."
Multiple Intelligence Profiles
multiple intelligence profiles
A 20-second PSA produced for Safer Internet Day (Feb 2010), as celebrated through 500 events in 50 countries all over the world.
How to Use Social-Networking Technology for Learning | Edutopia
Schools should reflect the world we live in today. And we live in a social world. We need to teach students how to be effective collaborators in that world, how to interact with people around them, how to be engaged, informed twenty-first-century citizens.
My School, Meet MySpace: Social Networking at School | Edutopia
Months before the newly hired teachers at Philadelphia's Science Leadership Academy (SLA) started their jobs, they began the consuming work of creating the high school of their dreams -- without meeting face to face. They articulated a vision, planned curriculum, designed assessment rubrics, debated discipline policies, and even hammered out daily schedules using the sort of networking tools -- messaging, file swapping, idea sharing, and blogging
Evaluating Information Sources
Learning module from New Zealand educators teaches students how to evaluate resources.
3 Ways Educators are Embracing Social Technology
The modern American school faces rough challenges. Budget cuts have caused ballooning class sizes, many teachers struggle with poorly motivated students, and in many schools a war is being waged on distracting technologies. In response, innovative educators are embracing social media to fight back against the onslaught of problems. Technologies such as Twitter and Skype offer ideal solutions as inexpensive tools of team-based education.
Diigo Lists of Digital Cybercitizenship Topics & Resources
Are you planning your digital curriculum? These handy lists will help you quickly find what you need.
Wi-Fi Turns Arizona Bus Ride Into a Rolling Study Hall
Part of a wider effort to use technology to extend learning beyond classroom walls and the six-hour school day. Internet buses may soon be hauling children to school in many other districts, particularly those with long bus routes. The company marketing the router, Autonet Mobile, says it has sold them to schools or districts in Florida, Missouri and Washington, D.C.
Author James Surowiecki, author of The Wisdom of Crowds, explains how the decision-making ability of a diverse group of people is more effective than that of individuals.
Should Students be Suspended for Facebook Postings from Home? [Video]
Oak Forest High School’s superintendent says the Facebook posting disrupted the school day, and that’s why the student was suspended.
Ensuring Equitable Use of Education Technology
When a school or district decides to implement education technology into the curriculum, one of its overriding goals must be to create plans and policies for all members of the learning community to have equitable access and use. Appropriate funding and professional development represent the key means of supporting equitable access and use of technology to ensure technology literacy and to support meaningful learning for all students.
Digital Youth Network: Empowering Youth Through Media
Digital Youth Network gives students tools to be engaged, articulate, critical and collaborative. Facilitate the ability to become creators – designers, builders & innovators – who can envision new possibilities.
FINAL REPORT | DIGITAL YOUTH RESEARCH
"Kids' Informal Learning with Digital Media: An Ethnographic Investigation of Innovative Knowledge Cultures" is a three-year collaborative project funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
MacArthur Series - Digital Learning
The MacArthur Series on Digital Media and Learning is a series of volumes that explore core issues facing young people in the digital world.
The Common Sense Media policy agenda aims to empower parents, teachers and young people themselves to take control of the media and technology in their lives, in order to help keep kids learning, thriving, and safe.\n\n * Promoting Digital Literacy and Citizenship - Key to 21st Century Learning and Online Safety.\n * Addressing the Major Public Health Issues Related to Media\n * Improving Consumer Tools and Ratings to Empower Families to Make Smarter Choices\n
BrainPOP | Digital Citizenship
Brainpop's new unit on Digital Citizenship covers topics like computer viruses, cyberbullying, blogs, copyright, digital etiquette, privacy, online safety, plagiarism, and social networking in their familiar format. And best off, it's all free.
M-Ubuntu Project, South Africa
When South African 7th graders, Shandre Lee Davids and Kirsten Goliath went to school on Friday morning, they might have told an inquiring family member of a whirlwind day ahead.
During the course of the school day, under the guidance of their English Teacher, Ms Lesego Raleholi, and accompanied by 17 more of their classmates, they interacted with educators and learners from Beijing, two cities on the East-coast of the USA and two other South African schools in Mafikeng and Cape Town respectively.
The annual Horizon Report identifies and describes emerging technologies likely to have a large impact on teaching, learning, or creative inquiry on college and university campuses within the next five years. In each edition of the Horizon Report, six emerging technologies or practices are described that are likely to enter mainstream use on campuses within three adoption horizons spread over the next one to five years. Each report also presents critical trends and challenges that will affect teaching and learning over the same time frame.
U.S. Dept of Education - Open Innovation Portal
Online community headed by the Federal Chief Technology Officer and US Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan - bringing innovation to Education
How Typical Kids Use Social Technology
Q&A interviews with teens on digital access/activities from the bNetSavvy team.
Global Kids' Online Leadership Program
In 2006, following extensive research into the educational potential of virtual worlds, Global Kids became the first nonprofit to develop a dedicated space for conducting programming in the virtual world of Teen Second Life (TSL). Within TSL, the organization has established Global Kids Island, which hosts interactive, experiential programs for teens from around the world. Specifically, Global Kids is conducting intensive leadership programming for youth, bringing youth from its New York-based programs into the space, and streaming the audio and video of major events into the world.
Using Flexible Technology to Meet the Needs of Diverse Learners [PDF]
Many general education teachers are turning to differentiated instruction to help them meet their students' diverse learning needs. This Knowledge Brief explains how some standard technology resources already available at most schools — talking text, web resources, graphic organizers, and word processors — can be used to support more tailored instruction. It also tells readers where to find more technology tips
Tech encourages students’ social skills
Well-integrated technology opens social networks for students and allows children to develop key social skills, according to two recent studies conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Will schools pro-actively model and teach the safe and appropriate use of these digital tools or will they reactively block them out and leave students and families to fend for themselves?
Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning
Spotlight magazine showcases the projects and people funded by the MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Media and Learning Initiative and covers the intersections of technology and learning. We go beyond the research to show how digital media is being used in classrooms and programs around the world.
Three Important Lessons Banning Cell Phones Teaches Kids
Teachable moment: In addition to the three important lessons, the teacher guided students through a process of creating and posting their own version of appropriate rules for cell phones in school. Over five dozen student comments are posted. Interesting stuff.
Best Photoshop Hoaxes – A History of Doctoring History
These photos would be great exhibits for a classroom discussion on authenticating resources and not believing everything you see.
National Broadband Plan, 2010 [PDF]
A plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing consumer welfare, public safety & homeland security, education, worker training and other national purposes as mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Case of the Plagiarized Paper [Video Caper]
Suggested classroom use (4th-10th grade): writing, literature, history, technology/computer teachers, character education, leadership classes. Additional use: school-wide assemblies, school broadcasts, district streaming, counselor sessions, “back to school” programs on cheating/plagiarism, college prep, in preperation for assigning a major writing assignment,
Case of the Plagiarized Paper [Video teaser]
Dave, a fellow 8th grade classmate needs help from the Club. Someone in Mr. B’s class plagiarized their own paper—and since Mr. B has a bell curve it affects everyone. Dave’s grade is lowered and his parents are sending him to Boarding School! Adina’s Deck takes the case in order to help Dave get the grade he deserves. In this who-done-it, there are four main suspects, and the club needs to investigate each of their alibis to catch the cheater and save Dave. After a difficult case, the club learns about the true nature of plagiarism- and that doing things right the first time just might be a trustworthy solution.
National Broadband Plan / ARRA 2010 [PDF]
A plan for use of broadband infrastructure and services in advancing consumer welfare, public safety & homeland security, education, worker training and other national purposes as mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
addthis_pub = 'ALAMarketing'; 152 pages6" x 9"SoftcoverISBN-13: 978-0-8389-0886-0Year Published: 2004Libraries eager to serve the underserved teen-to-twenty-year-old market can make the library a cool place to hang out. All it takes are zines, according to the author, young adult librarian Julie Bartel. Zines and alternative press materials provide a unique bridge to appeal to disenfranchised youth, alienated by current collections.For librarians unfamiliar with the territory, or anxious to broaden their collection, veteran zinester Bartel establishes the context, history, and philosophy of zines, then ushers readers through an easy, do-it-yourself guide to creating a zine collection, including both print and electronic zines. While zines have their unique culture, they are also important within broader discussions of intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights.Teen and young adult librarians, high school media specialists, and academic, reference, and adult services librarians will uncover answers to questions aboutthis new and growing literary genre:What is a zine and how does a library zine collection work?What are the pros and cons of having a zine collection in the library?When promoting zines, what appeals to patrons and non-library users alike?What is the best way to catalog and display?Where can libraries get zines and how much do they cost?Bartel shares these lessons and more from a major urban library zine collection, as well as a comprehensive directory of zine resources in this one-stop, one-of-a-kind guide.Table of ContentsFiguresPreface Part I: Philosophy, Arguments, and Background1. Welcome to the World of Zines 2. Zine Culture 101 3. Intellectual Freedom, the Library Bill of Rights, and Zines 4. To Collect or Not to Collect: The Whys and Wherefores 5. The Salt Lake City Public Library Zine Collection Part II: Zine Collections: A Do-It-Yourself Guide6. Getting Started 7. What Do You Do with Them Once You’ve Got Them? 8. Living Arrangements 9. Spreading the Word 10. Programming and OutreachPart III: Beyond the Printed Word11. Electronic Zine Culture: E-Zines, Blogs, and More Part IV: AppendixesA. Further Information B. How to Start Your Own Zine C. Review Zines D. Distros E. Zine Fairs and Conferences F. Zine Libraries G. Stores That Carry Zines H. Recommended Reading Index About the AuthorJulie Bartel is teen librarian and system-wide selector of teen materials and graphic novels at the Salt Lake City Public Library. A zinester herself, Bartel is founder and coordinator of the City Library Zine Collection, the oldest and largest in a public library. Her article, “The Salt Lake City Public Library Zine Collection,” published in Public Libraries, was awarded the Beginning Professional Award for Teen Services by the Mountain Plains Library Association. She holds her MLS from Syracuse University. Reviews
Excellent site with searchable pathfinders. Can search A-Z or by grade levels. All subject matters are covered.
Database of free onlione stories and poems. Browse by author, title, search the database or dowload to iTunes. You can also view stories online or print pdf pages.
PDFmyURL.com - Convert and save pdf from any webpage for free
This digital briefcase is arranged into categories like Office, Useful Tools, and Curriculum Resources. Each category is subdivided and scrolling over it will bring up a list of resources.
Excellent grouping of tools.
Deep Web - Kosmix : Reference, Videos, Images, News, Shopping and more...
Safe Travels for You and Your Data
It’s hard enough to make sure the data you send and receive is safe when you’re at home or at work. But traveling brings a whole new set of hazards: from publicly accessible computers to unprotected wireless networks to crowded and pickpocket-plagued airports.
"Freedom to read can never be taken for granted. Even in Canada, a free country by world standards, books and magazines are banned at the border. Books are removed from the shelves in Canadian libraries, schools and bookstores every day. Free speech on the Internet is under attack. Few of these stories make headlines, but they affect the right of Canadians to decide for themselves what they choose to read."
Rap summaries of the weekly news. Good for current events, differentiation, an alternate assessment model, media production skills.
The Library, Through Students’ Eyes - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
Student comments made to the NYT article "Do school libraries need books"
SafeShare.TV - The Safest Way To Share YouTube videos
SafeShare TV creates a new URL for a YouTube video. It elimnates the distracting elements around the video as it appears on YouTube and allows you to crop the video.
Book Trailer Resources « Crete Teens
Useful links for resources in creating book trailers
schoollibrarywebsites - New Manifesto
Valenza's new manifesto - You know you are a 21st century librarian if...
This reads like a required punch list for school librarians. Excellent.
Bullying. No way! is developed and managed by all Australian education authorities for use by Australia's Government, Catholic and Independent school communities.
CyberNetrix - Internet Safety Education for Secondary Schools
Australian online safety site CyberNetrix offers computer-based activities that have been designed for secondary students from years seven to nine as a cross-curricula, cross-year level resource. There is a teacher guide and 11 downloadable student activities.
BBC - Newsbeat - Pupils 'bypassing school internet security'
BBC article about the dangers of students using proxy servers
On this area of the Digizen website we outline the three major areas of the advice, Understanding, Preventing and Responding; and provided links to current resources.
100 Fantastic Book Sites for Kids & Teens | Associate Degree - Facts and Information
GUEST OPINION: In defense of school librarians | PressDemocrat.com
I have worked in public schools for 14 years now, just "hanging out in the library," as one Santa Rosa trustee recently summed it up, with students in grades pre-K through 12.
A Fly on the Classroom Wall: Olympic Sites for Parents & Teachers
Websites to use the olympics in education.
Google may know more about you than your mother does. Got a problem with that?
YouAreHere - where kids learn to be smarter consumers!
FTC site with exercises that help teach kids how to be smarter consumers. Parent and teacher pages offer suggested activities and ways to use this site in the classroom.
Great slideshow from the UK on how the truth can be hidden to fraud or mislead viewers. Includes six guiding principles to avoid deception.
American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States
Thousands of speeches!
Do School Libraries Need Books? - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
Debate on traditional vs. digital reading continues.
November to educators: Let students use online social tools
Blocking access to these tools in classrooms discourages student-centered learning, leading education technology consultant says
Teens Launch "Inconvenient Youth" Network -- Environmental Protection
"Inconvenient Youth, a new non-profit, non-partisan network for and by teens has started recruiting and training young people to fight global warming, according to an Aug. 15 press release. Today the group launched with a three-day workshop on climate change at Stanford University attended by youth from around the world. "
Facebook Privacy Settings for Young Teens-and their Parents
Recommendations for privacy settings on Facebook and how to do it.
inword.pdf (application/pdf Object)
How to create a storyboard using Word.
How Social Gaming Is Improving Education
Enter social video games as a solution — immersive environments that simulate real-world problems. Today, technologically eager schools are replacing textbook learning with social video games, and improving learning outcomes in the process. Here’s how they’re doing it.
The Connection Between Bullying and Cyberbullying
Phoebe Prince was tormented by bullies at school and online. Here's what we can learn from her suicide. When working to prevent the new mix of bullying and cyberbulling, schools can look at the lessons learned from an earlier effort to stop the traditional, in-person kind of kid cruelty.
