Cool Cat Teacher Blog - Latest Comments in Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Marlayna — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:18:11 -0000

I'm currently getting my degree for teaching high school English, and I remember my professor in my Intro to Teaching class saying something that stuck with me - she said that we are going into a field where we are "fish in a glass bowl" at all times. Everyone is watching us, analyzing us - from the students, to their parents, to the administration. And everything we do is public. This blog kind of drove that home for me.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

coolcatteacher — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:02:21 -0000

Yes, watching James Bond is not as novel as it used to be with all the gadgets we now have.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Kjtalent — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:10:08 -0000

Thank you for this post. I had not really thought much about this. It is a real eye opener.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

coolcatteacher — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:03:52 -0000

We sure need to use what we have already and use it well. Some schools have this luxury - but we don't at our school!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

coolcatteacher — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:02:34 -0000

Yes! This remains a current and important issue!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Seachele47 — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:11:49 -0000

The post touches on some very valid and important issues we are facing as educators today. It is important that we are aware of what is changing, whether or not we can do anything to stop it, and re-evaluate what our roles are in and outside of the classroom.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

VBarbour-KSUThing4 — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 18:10:52 -0000

*VBarbour - Thing4*~

Thank you! There are a lot of points that you bring to the forefront! I definitely agree that schools who ignore technology and ignore instilling values in their students could be reaping the negative consequences for those walking their halls right now for the next 100 years. I believe that another factor is that once a school invests in technology, the next best thing emerges before anyone is proficient with what was just bought before they attempt to jump on the band wagon and purchase the "newer" technology.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

coolcatteacher — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:12:32 -0000

Such a great point!

I like to compare it to Driver's ed - we cannot guarantee they won't make
mistakes but we do know that it will improve their overall safety to
practice under our guidance!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

annette — Sat, 08 May 2010 08:34:12 -0000

I am struck with how much the technology issue is anologus to sex eduncation. It has always been astonding to me when teachers and parents think if we don't talk about it the issue will go away. Technology like sex is here to stay. Let's begin unabashed discussions with our students. We can take the punch out of the potentially bad behavior if the discussion beats the behavior.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

ipod transfer to computer — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:46:29 -0000

I do believe that Values and ethics are vital. And I Love this line "Schools who ignore technology and ignore instilling values in their students could be reaping the negative consequences for those walking their halls right now for the next 100 years."

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

coolcatteacher — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:41:49 -0000

IF you look at the Digiteen project - http://wiki.digiteen.net - you'll see that digital citizenship should be taught to students. I agree with you totally that students nor their parents understand how to use the technologies as they should. It should be part of what we teach!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Michelle Herring — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:07:36 -0000

Thing# 4
I agree with you. I believe we should use these technologies to our advantage, but we need to teach the students how to use them responsibly. They have never been taught the ethics behind using them. We have acceptable use policies in place at school, but do the students really read it and understand them. Do their parents really read them and understand them?

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

jfuller — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:01:40 -0000

Great article, I just finished reading all the comments. I recently watched Michael Wesch's short YouTube film "Students are Changing", filmed by with in collaboration with his college students. I would suggest everyone watch it!!! As an educator who went to high school when the only way we could receive a phone call from our parents was through the main office, it is up to me to try and educate myself and my students about best practices of technology. I agree with the comment made about modeling and being a role model. Creating a comfortable and safe environment for my students to is one my main priorities.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

John — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:07:22 -0000

Values and ethics.
Should be supported at school but should start in the home.

Problem? lots of homes don't have values that transfer to positive traits in public.

Most of the time there are no tech. problems in my classes. Ones that reoccur: texting, gaming,and the occasional ring on the phone that wasn't shut off.
Solution?: I tell them to put it away, I take it away till the end of the period w/o making a scene, I let them listen to their music in none teacher centered times.

Rationale?: I explain that in college it is unacceptable, at work it is unacceptable, and that we are always working on life skills so that they can be on their own once they graduate HS, whether they are going to college, work, or military

Result?: consistency in life works. Call it modeling.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

coolcatteacher — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:10:12 -0000

Balanced, wise thoughts!! Yes!!

Vicki Davis
Cool Cat Teacher Blog

Building the bridges of today that the society of tomorrow will walk
across.

Sent from my iPod touch

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Thing 4 Doug SMith — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:53:39 -0000

Funny, teacher's controlling technology like cell phones, our government can't control it and has no idea how to police it. What chances do we as educators have? I say slim but that shouldn't stop us from using it in the classroom. Will we stop all of it no. And you can have all the ethics classes you want, people are going to do what people want and rationalize the ethics or actions to fit their needs or wants. But administrators must take an active role in dropping the hammer on any misuse to let the students know what is acceptable and what is not. And we as educators must teach the necessary skills for students to choose to do the right thing. We can't force people to be good all the time, but we can arm them with the tools to make the right choices.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Kaywadie — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:58:22 -0000

Your first point is so apt. Schools cannot be Luddites by forbidding technology. The potential of smartphones in particular is yet untapped. I had a student lamenting last week that he couldn't take lecture notes in his prefered medium -- on his iPhone -- because its use was banned on campus.
Thanks for the link to the polling site.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

KSUetclearningweb2.0 — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:45:11 -0000

I think there is a need for various technologies in all aspects of education although I think the professional relationship teachers have students creates abuse or proper use of the cell phone. I caught a student setting up a drug deal while in the library. I found that he uses his phone on a continuous basis all day in every class and teachers, although suspicious, turn their heads. At this point I question what some teachers think their role is...I took the phone up and made him see an administrator to get it back, maybe it threw him off schedule.I think cell phones can be used for many things under supervision and in certain classes. I think teachers should be able to determine what and when students should be able to use them in the classroom and enforce ramifications for misuse; setting up lesson plans for use, specifically, although time consuming to plan can be very usegful and interesting. We should all know that we must march to the beat of the new generation's learning style and outlawing cell phones entirely will turn-off 99% of the students in today's world. "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." Henry David Thoreau must have been able to see the future.
General student texting, to me, is questionable since kids are not stupid and cheating is BIG on the texting scene.
Parents are paying the big bucks for students to have the latest hand held computers, there must be safe and effective ways to use them to enhance the learning experiences.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Betty's Blogs — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:12:00 -0000

Cell phones are a fact of life and we need to deal with the issues they present. Videos can be edited, posted and cause lots of damage. Students need to be taught proper cell phone use!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

coolcatteacher — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:35:18 -0000

Everything has a use whether good or bad! We use cellphones in class
just today, but there is a purpose when we do! One day we'll require
kids to have cell phones!

Vicki Davis
Cool Cat Teacher Blog

Building the bridges of today that the society of tomorrow will walk
across.

Sent from my iPod touch

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Mom2 — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:32:24 -0000

Some parents condone their kids having their cell phone at school. Some even text their children while in class and then get upset when their phones are taken up. If some of the parents could see some of the conversations that are going on they would not be so thrilled. Technology is a wonderful think that can help us out in everyday life, but there needs to be some limitations. Nothing is really private anymore, but these kids have no idea just how public their posts are.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

physicsAddict — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:07:10 -0000

By saying that students can not use their technology in the learning environment, we seperate the learning environment from their future. Which is not the goal of education. I have let students use cellphones as calculators, timers for experiments, and reminders to to do something when they get home. By giving the suggestion for students to set their alarms for 30 minutes after they get home, that can trigger a reminder that I specifically had for them. Very Useful.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Tina Amores — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:38:55 -0000

I think that schools should have rules for the use of cellpones in the classroom. We had an incident in my school last year. A student video taped a teacher in the classroom and put her on Youtube. I really don't see why students need to have cell phones to begin with. Every classroom in my school has a phone and our school office has phones.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Janet — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:45:49 -0000

Does make one wonder how much is posted out there. Or for that matter waiting to be posted until the student feels safe from consequences. It also brings to mind a story from a fellow teacher about going out to dinner and being confronted by a former student who was her waiter. At least he did it to her face.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Spies Like Us

Deborah Shultz — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:21:58 -0000

WOW- My husband is a high school history teacher who strictly bands cell phones in his classroom. The stories he tells to get student engaged in learning are always real and from history and the student love hearing them, but I can see how one undetected cell phone could put a real swing on one of those stories by just recording some and out of context put with something else... hummm Teachers be ware is all I can say. I wonder if someday we will have a box in the front of the room where you drop your digital equipment off before class?