Week 10 ~ Annotated Bibliography on Cyber-Safety

Articles

 1. Oleck, Joan. "Internet Safety Moves into "Top Ten" Concerns of Parents with Kids." Library Journal: Library News, Reviews and Views. 8 May 2007. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. 

This article discusses the Internet Safety as being one of the “Top Ten” concerns of parents.  It actually came in at number “7” as being their top child-rearing problem.  32 percent of women vs. 21 percent of men were more likely to call Internet safety a big problem and a major area of concern.  The article also points out that this poll was conducted before the Virginia Tech shootings.

2. Butler, Kevin. "Cybersafety in the Classroom, District Leaders Need to Take Responsibility for Teaching Students How to Wisely Navigate the Internet." District Administration (2010): 53-57. June 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. 

This article discusses how educators using technology has created a need for responsible citizenship.  The author discusses that we need to start web usage education as soon as students are on the computer.  The article states that educators feel insufficiently prepared to handle the responsibility of internet safety with their students.  Part of the problem is because of the internets ever changing landscape and how quickly tools or sites become out of date.  Within the article there are eight websites identified as providing resources for internet safety, only two are subscription based.  The article also suggests enlisting Web 2.0 tools to teach Internet safety, security and ethics, buy using tools such as wiki’s and Ning .  The author quotes author Will Richardson who says for teachers and parent to be truly effective in discussing Internet security they need first hand experience.

Media

3. Davis, Matthew. "Parents Seek Internet Safety." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. University of Michigan. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. 

In this video, Dr. Matthew Davis discusses how technology is used to threaten, harass or target another person.  The video also discusses how it has become an increasing problem for children because they have access to the internet, social networking sites, cell phones and e-mail.  Dr. Davis asks, “What can parent, kids and schools do about it?”  Davis also mentions that parents aren’t confidant that schools alone can handle this and says that parents need to start the conversation with their kids about the possibility of cyberbullying and to make sure that their kids feel safe.  The video concludes by suggesting that schools, parents, teens and preteens who are affected by bullying get to them early, to preserve their self-esteem of the victims.

4. Cellan-Jones, Rory. "BBC News - Children Learn about Internet Safety." BBC News - Home. 8 Dec. 2009. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. 

I selected this video because I like to explore what other countries are doing in the areas such as Internet safety for children.  Zip it, Block it, Flag it, is an Internet Safety Program targeted at primary school children in the United Kingdom that will be implemented by 2011. The reporter discusses how the children are given basic informal Internet safety education.  The teacher, Massimo Bonnadeao suggests that if children are on the internet that parents be in the same room.  They go on to discuss that it’s not a fixed part of the curriculum and that it will be easy to introduce and it will make it safer for children.

5. Millis, Tara, and Jim Gamble. "BBC News - Children Learn about Internet Safety." BBC News - Home. 23 Apr. 2009. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. 

Tara Mills of the BBC interviews Jim Gamble, the head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, about ways to keep children safe on the Internet.  As a member of the Virtual Global Alliance Task Force (Can, Aus, US, UK, Interpol) their number one concern is keeping children safe.  Gamble discusses how putting information on line is unsafe and that pedophiles go fishing to take advantage of vulnerable children.  He talks about during investigations he’s seen 40+ chats logs going on a pedophile computer.  During the interview he discusses that having the computer in the front room does not necessarily make your child safe.  Children have access to the Internet on their cell phones; make sure your children understand the nature of the risks.  He continues his interview by discussing how parents need to talk to their children and discuss social networking; inquire how many of their friends do actually know. This is also a starting point for parents and children to discuss.  Gamble discusses the CEOP website (http://www.ceop.police.uk/ )that contains videos that parents should watch with their children to keep them safe.   He also discusses the CEOP “Report Abuse” button and how easily they can follow up abuse reports by children and he gives examples.  The button is real, and it has real child protection professionals behind it.  He would like to see frameworks that require websites to have the button and a relationship with CEOP.

Websites

 6.  Netsmartz Workshop Wal-Mart. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. 

What I liked about this website was the organization.  The home page is nicely organized, especially the “Choose an Issue” section.  There are seven options to choose from; when you make a selection each option contains “Tips” to keep children safe and “Discussion Starters” for parents to begin conversations with their children.  There are also videos on keeping your child safe; each video is grouped age appropriately. Within each option there is also a “Learn, Teach, Watch,” section and selections within each option.  Additionally the website is organized by Parents & Guardians, Educators, Law Enforcement, Teens, Tweens and Kids with abundant information. Within the Educators screen there are teaching materials, presentations, and promotional items – all free. 

7. Stay Safe On-line National Cyber Security Alliance. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. 

This website is nicely categorized by In The Home, In the Classroom, Higher Education, For Business, Tools and Resources and Cyber Awareness Month.  In the Classroom explains the “Three Key Pillars” or Cybersecurity, Cybersafety, and Cyberethics. Additionally there are Lesson and Teaching Materials, within this screen there are additional links to help protect students as well as information provided by Homeland Security. What I liked about the In the Home section was the quiz and the information on how to protect your children and yourself. The Tools contained a “Stop, Think, Connect” lesson which was very similar to the UK’s   Zip it, Block it, Flag it.  Additionally there were tips and advice on keeping you and your computer safe.

Week 9 ~ Professional Development

This week I'm learning about professional development and working on creating a presentation for professionals who are interested in learning about some Web 2.0 Tools! I've decided to focus my presentation on "Organization Tools for the Professional."   The goal of my presentation will be to show teachers and other professionals how to organize information they locate on the web to make their teaching life easier.  I will post my presentation later.  In the meantime I hope you enjoy the Washington University Librarians/Faculty & Library Students "Do Gaga" show!

Week 8 ~ E-Readers & My Top 5 Tools

Kindle

When I think of a Kindle, this is the image that comes to my mind.  I think they are great if you are going on a long trip and won't have room to pack a suitcase full of books.  However, my personal preference is the touch, the feel, the smell of a book.  Books are sexy, Kindle's are not.  

I can't imagine myself falling asleep reading a Kindle.  Have you ever done that?  Have you fallen asleep while reading?  Only to wake-up to find your book on the floor.  The nice thing about that is, it's still in one piece.  So I have this fear that if I fall asleep while reading my Kindle I'll wake it to a million little pieces (maybe not a million) on the floor.  

Strangely enough I own a Kindle.  I own it because my bank was giving them out, otherwise I would never have bought one.  

Sony Vaio Netbook

My bank also gave us a Sony Vaio Netbook, which I love. Nice bank huh?  I think we'll continue banking with them!  They give great electronics! But I digress . . . let's get back on track!

When it's all said and done, I see the value in the using e-readers, but I'm not fond of them.  I think they are a good tool for students who may be computer/technical savvy and not so good readers.  I think they can be less intimidating for students, especially when you think of the size and thickness of a book compared to the thickness of an e-reader like Kindle. 

Imagine if you had a stack of Harry Potter books that you assigned to a student for summer reading.  Most likely your student would freak, especially if they are a reluctant reader.  Now, imagine that same stack of books on an e-reader/Kindle, which do you think the student would choose?  They wouldn't even realize how many books are on the e-reader, LOL, they'd be like the Ever-Ready Bunny, they'd just keep on reading, and reading and reading!

   

I'm going to bet on the Kindle/e-reader. It's portable, and easy to manage.  It can be read on the beach because of the anti-glare screen.  It can easily be put in a carry-on suitcase for travel.  It does not take up much space in the family camper, and maybe it will inspire mom and dad to read Harry Potter, which would make for great family discussions!

My Top 5 Tools

During weeks 2 through 8 in Module Two, we looked at a variety of tools. Listed below in no particular order are my "Top 5" picks!

(1) Animoto - One of my favorite applications was Animoto. Animoto can bring photographs to life by creating a beautiful visual presentation set to music. Animoto also gives you the ability to incorporate video within your presentations.

(2) Google Reader - I think I'm in love with this feature! I love being able to view my blogs easily and in one location without going through blogger dashboard. This is fantastic. I've also taught my husband how to use this feature, he's really enjoyed using it. It's like one stop shopping! If you would like more information on Google Reader you can click on "Help" from within Google Reader and there are many tips on using this tool. You will find topics on "Recommended Articles" and "Learn More about using Google Reader," each of these topics have sub-topics for you to explore.

(3) Google Calendar - An electronic calendar in which you can share information with others or keep private. I especially like the To-Do list, Reminder, and Repeat event features. I would suggest that you review the "Help" screen and read the "Getting Started" section if you need assistance.

(4) YouTube - is a great site to find video on a plethora of topics, from the normal to the absurd. You can find videos on pop-culture, current event or education. If you are fortunate enough to use it in the classroom it can be a great tool for students and teachers.

(5) Delicious - I really like the idea of having all of my links in one location. I also like the idea that I can access my favorites from where ever I am. Additionally adding the "tags" for organization really makes access a breeze!

Week 7 ~ Online Social Networking and Gaming

For me social networking is simply a way to keep in touch with friends and family and former co-workers that I don't see all the time.  Face Book has actually been a very good tool for my family to keep people informed about family members who've been ill recently.  My family is so huge it would take days to get the word out and all branches of the family are on FB so it makes it easier to keep in touch.

Occasionally I'll come across a new article or social interest article that I find interesting and I'll post it to my Face Book page.  I occasionally post photos I've taken that interest me, such as photos of Maine, family get together's or things that I have cooked.  I try not to be political because everyone has different opinions about politics, even if they are wrong! LOL!!!    

I have never been much of a gamer, the closest I came to being a gamer was playing pac-man and Super Marioa few times .  I could probably count on my fingers how many times I've played video games.  The sold-out gaming conference in Boston amazes me because of the number of people who are interested in gaming, and the number of people who are hard core gamers.  In my opinion it's a very expensive hobby.  Just looking at the number of sponsors (over 50) represented at the PAX East 2011 Conference will tell you that it's a very lucrative industry.  


On the bright side, this industry does require the use of math, science, engineering and graphic design/art to name a few. When I interviewed my gamer he told me that it was a field that he was interested in when he finishes college.  He'll do well, he's very enthusiastic about gaming.  It certainly was interesting listening to gamers being interviewed on the news and talk about their hobby or in some cases their livelihood, it certainly makes for a more interesting world. It also made me better appreciate the gaming world, not that I'm going to run out and buy the latest version of Super Mario Galaxy 2!

In retrospect, when I reflect upon  how excited gamers are about games and gadgets I can only compare it to how excited I get over a new Le Creuset pan and then discovering there's an outlet in Kittery, Maine!  To each his own, because that's what makes the world an interesting place!

Week 6 ~ Online Media

For the past several years I've been photographing flags in Maine.  Recently I had the opportunity to bring these photographs to life using Animoto software!  Animoto lets you take your photographs and create a slideshow  video with music to enhance your photographs!  Please click  HERE to view my first Animoto video.  Don't forget the popcorn!

This week I explored many types of online media. It's amazing to see what's out there for free, and what's available for a small fee.  When you have a moment please check out the following links.

YouTube - is a great site to find video on a plethora of topics, from the normal to the absurd.  You can find videos on pop-culture, current event or education. If you are fortunate enough to use it in the classroom it can be a great tool for students and teachers.

TeacherTube - like YouTube you can find the same type of videos, however I find them to be more filtered and policed . . . one of the features I like about TeacherTube is the Teaching Resources where you can find topics for any grade and any subject as well as class management and organization tool printable's.  So if you're looking for videos on how to add negative numbers to the Civil War, you'll probably find it here!

Vimeo - Is a great tool to learn how to make videos.  There is great information provided in Video School, such as 'Video 101' on how to create a video.  You'l also find additional information within Video School - it's worth checking out.  This is a great tool for students, teachers or the hobbyst who want to study music, art, photography or technology and bring their ideas to life!

Itunes - I went to the Apple store at the Burlington Mall because I don't own any Apple products and it was like going into a casino!  The place was mobbed and it was a great place to go to ask questions and play around with the Apple technology.  This link will take you right to 'Tips for Podcast Fans.'  If you're interested in learning about podcasting this is the place to go!  Podcasting is defined as a way to distribute (multimedia files) over the internet for playback on a mobile device or a personal computer. It can be audio or video.  

Educational Podcast Network - On EPN you'll find a variety of podcasts to choose from.  I did find some problems with podcasts not being available and in some cases there was clutter on the pages where the podcasts were.  There is some good information on explaining what a podcast is and how to find and subscribe to a podcast.

Voice Thread - is a multimedia tool that let's you put your voice to documentation, video, images or presentations or a combination of all of them.  There are five ways to comment and edit your comments. This is a great tool to use to record books or comment on photo's or to use for team collaboration with students.  It can be used to teach foreign languages, it makes a great math tutor, the uses are limitless!  You do need to set up an account and the annual subscription fee is reasonable.

Pandora - is Internet radio.  You'll receive 39 free hours, after that you'll need to purchase a subscription.  About half of the songs I was looking for were not available.  I did find that it was a bit of a memory hog and did freeze several times.  I think it's a nice concept, however I would prefer using iTunes. It's just as easy to purchase and download from iTunes and you get exactly what you're looking for music wise.

Europa Film Treasures - I'm not sure I would use this tool in class because you need permission from Europa Film Treasures even in a school setting.  I also found it difficult to find films in topics I was interested in that were in English.  Films are also only streamed in and can't be downloaded. I would however, suggest this site to anyone who is interested in studying film, as I'm sure they would find it very educational.

Overall, the exploration of these online media tools has been a great learning opportunity.  I have been introduced and exposed to different types of online media that I may not have used before.  Additionally, while I may not use all of these tools I know they are available and if a teacher or a student is interested I know where to refer them. Another benefit to this exploration was learning that most of these tools are reasonable priced and could very easily be worked into a library media center budget.

For your viewing pleasure I've also included my photos from the video slideshow so you can see how Animoto brought them to life! For more details on Animoto check out the bottom of this post!

Animoto will let you create a 30 second video for free and if that's not enough you can purchase the tool by clicking this website Animoto.com.  If you'd like to view my video again, simply click HERE!