Digital Citizens must follow netiquette guidelines. Please click the link below to view these guidelines.
http://meg9087.edu.glogster.com/netiquette-5162/
Friday, January 31, 2014
Participate 3.1.1 Access to the Digital Community
In order to be an effective digital citizen, access is a must. Whether one is a learner or an educator, understanding the levels of access can be beneficial. After completing the module on access I found the following results about my own connection:
I also discovered that Carroll County is ranked 67th out of 160 counties in the state of Georgia.
While I thought my broadband access was decent, compared to the national standard mine is much slower. I am able to do just about anything I need to for education, so I am not complaining.
As an online educator, I would have to ask the following questions:
Unfortunately, some students may have barriers to accessing digital learning. Some barriers could include low bandwidth, disabilities, income disparity, political constraints, and outdated equipment. Everyone that tries to access digital learning is no sitting in their living room in a big city. There are those that are poverty stricken and can not afford new equipment or high speed internet. They do the best they can with what they have.
I also discovered that Carroll County is ranked 67th out of 160 counties in the state of Georgia.
While I thought my broadband access was decent, compared to the national standard mine is much slower. I am able to do just about anything I need to for education, so I am not complaining.
As an online educator, I would have to ask the following questions:
Unfortunately, some students may have barriers to accessing digital learning. Some barriers could include low bandwidth, disabilities, income disparity, political constraints, and outdated equipment. Everyone that tries to access digital learning is no sitting in their living room in a big city. There are those that are poverty stricken and can not afford new equipment or high speed internet. They do the best they can with what they have.
- What might we do to eliminate such barriers?
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Participate 2.1.1 Collecting Reputable Digital Resources
As an educator, I am constantly looking for reputable digital resources to use in class. I also teach my students to always evaluate the website where they obtain information. Anyone can create a website, so just because it is published does not make it reputable. As I searched for resources on the upcoming learning module that my group must create over Internet Safety, I found several great resources. The three most valuable are listed below:
Digital Citizenship Resources - LiveBinder
goorulearning.org
Welcome | Thinkfinity - thinkfinity.org
Students can also be taught to safely collect tools and resources that can help them maximize their learning. Some criteria for evaluating websites suggested by the UNFCCC are listed below:
Accuracy
To determine how reliable and free from error the information contained on a website is, remember to look at who is hosting the site. Is it a University, a government, a professional association, a commercial host, an advocacy group, a publisher? What are their biases? A good website should state its purpose and intended audience. It is always a good idea to check with other web resources, journals or magazines that publish website reviews to see if the site has received a stamp of approval, and if so, by whom. Always remember to verify the information on the website with information found in other print and/or web-based sources.
Authority
To determine the authorship of a website, examine the page closely for information about the author and to see if anyone else has contributed to the site. Check information on the WebPages to see if it includes references. A good website should provide a way to contact the producers of the site.
Objectivity
To determine the objectivity of a website, check if advertising and informational content are being supplied by the same person or organization. If so, examine whether there is a bias to the informational content. Keep in mind that many websites with excellent information are sponsored by commercial entities or take advertisements to finance the website.
Currency
To determine the currency of a website, find out when the page was last updated. Also look to see if there are broken links on the site, it could be an indication of an abandoned page. You should also check to see how often new links appear on the site.
Coverage
To determine if the information is adequately covered on a website, compare the information with information found on other websites. Does one site provide more information, more references, more contacts? Also compare the information on the website with information available in print sources such as books, journals, reports, etc. (if available).
For further information visit the site http://unfccc.int/essential_background/library/items/1420.php
As well as evaluating websites there are tools available for free such as the WOT (Web of Trust) add on that can be downloaded for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla FoxFire, etc. This add on can check the trustworthiness of a website you have in question.
Digital Citizenship Resources - LiveBinder
goorulearning.org
Welcome | Thinkfinity - thinkfinity.org
Students can also be taught to safely collect tools and resources that can help them maximize their learning. Some criteria for evaluating websites suggested by the UNFCCC are listed below:
Accuracy
To determine how reliable and free from error the information contained on a website is, remember to look at who is hosting the site. Is it a University, a government, a professional association, a commercial host, an advocacy group, a publisher? What are their biases? A good website should state its purpose and intended audience. It is always a good idea to check with other web resources, journals or magazines that publish website reviews to see if the site has received a stamp of approval, and if so, by whom. Always remember to verify the information on the website with information found in other print and/or web-based sources.
Authority
To determine the authorship of a website, examine the page closely for information about the author and to see if anyone else has contributed to the site. Check information on the WebPages to see if it includes references. A good website should provide a way to contact the producers of the site.
Objectivity
To determine the objectivity of a website, check if advertising and informational content are being supplied by the same person or organization. If so, examine whether there is a bias to the informational content. Keep in mind that many websites with excellent information are sponsored by commercial entities or take advertisements to finance the website.
Currency
To determine the currency of a website, find out when the page was last updated. Also look to see if there are broken links on the site, it could be an indication of an abandoned page. You should also check to see how often new links appear on the site.
Coverage
To determine if the information is adequately covered on a website, compare the information with information found on other websites. Does one site provide more information, more references, more contacts? Also compare the information on the website with information available in print sources such as books, journals, reports, etc. (if available).
For further information visit the site http://unfccc.int/essential_background/library/items/1420.php
As well as evaluating websites there are tools available for free such as the WOT (Web of Trust) add on that can be downloaded for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla FoxFire, etc. This add on can check the trustworthiness of a website you have in question.
Participate 1.1.3 Ideal Digital Learning Community
The next section in the TOOL MOOC explores the concept of the ideal DLC. Some of the questions posed are:
- What are the DLC’s characteristics?
- An ideal DLC would be one that engages the learner, allows the learner to work at their own pace, and offers some feedback as well. Varied learning activities will keep the learner actively engaged while moving through modules that build upon one another.
- What features of the DLC would set it apart from and above others?
- The ability to offer quick feedback would be one feature that would set it apart from others.
- Up to date information would be another feature that is important in today's ever-changing digital world.
- What qualities would potential citizens of such an enlightened online society need to possess in order to gain admittance?
- Potential citizens of an enlightened society need certain qualities in order to gain admittance in the ideal DLC. These qualities include but are not limited to the nine elements of digital citizenship:
- Digital Access: full electronic participation in society.
- Digital Commerce: electronic buying and selling of goods.
- Digital Communication: electronic exchange of information.
- Digital Literacy: process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology.
- Digital Etiquette: electronic standards of conduct or procedure.
- Digital Law: electronic responsibility for actions and deeds
- Digital Rights & Responsibilities: those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world.
- Digital Health & Wellness: physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology world.
- Digital Security (self-protection): electronic precautions to guarantee safety.
Participate 1.1.2 Joining a DLC
After reviewing several of the Digital Learning Communities that I bookmarked using Google Bookmark, I decided to join P2PU. The list below is the ones that really stood out to me.
| DigitalLearn.org is a great resource for teachers to show their students that are just learning to use the computer. Maybe elementary or middle school age children could appreciate the content. I really did like if for younger students. For my use, I liked the P2PU because it contains varied content, and it is broken down into content area so you can search for topics that interest you. |
| Digital Learning Communities can be very beneficial, but digital citizens should look around and choose a DLC that fits them best. That is the best advice I can give for someone wanting to join a DLC. Finding the right fit will ensure compatibility and success. |
Participate
As part of the course requirement for MEDT 7475 The Distance Educator, I
have enrolled in GVS TOOL MOOC. As a participant in the program, I
will be using this blog to reflect on what I learn. The first quest
deals with digital citizenship and what qualities one must possess to be
a good digital citizen.
Please click on the link below to get a better idea of what digital citizenship is.
http://www.teachthought.com/technology/the-definition-of-digital-citzenship/
Some qualities I feel that a digital citizen must possess are:
Navigation Skills- in order to be effective one must have the ability to navigate through digital media
Respect for others- respect for others, just like in a community, is essential in the digital world as well.
Ability to determine credibility of sites- the ability to determine which sites are creditable and which sites are not is very important. Finding information that is not reliable is not very helpful.
Privacy education (knowing what is safe to make public and what is not)-in the digital world it is so important to guard ourselves somewhat to protect us and our families. Google yourself and see what you find!
While there are many traits that could be listed, I feel that respecting others is crucial. As well as our young ones knowing about what they should not post on public sites.
Please click on the link below to get a better idea of what digital citizenship is.
http://www.teachthought.com/technology/the-definition-of-digital-citzenship/
Some qualities I feel that a digital citizen must possess are:
Navigation Skills- in order to be effective one must have the ability to navigate through digital media
Respect for others- respect for others, just like in a community, is essential in the digital world as well.
Ability to determine credibility of sites- the ability to determine which sites are creditable and which sites are not is very important. Finding information that is not reliable is not very helpful.
Privacy education (knowing what is safe to make public and what is not)-in the digital world it is so important to guard ourselves somewhat to protect us and our families. Google yourself and see what you find!
While there are many traits that could be listed, I feel that respecting others is crucial. As well as our young ones knowing about what they should not post on public sites.
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