Journal 4: Time to Trust Teachers (NETS I, III & V)

In this article, Meg Ormiston brings out a great point about the use of technology in the classroom. Most importantly Ormiston states that we need to teach students the proper ways of using the internet. Many school environments are blocking off much of the internet access in schools, this on one hand prevents students from accessing inappropriate content. Yet it has bigger implications than that.
By blocking off internet access, Ormiston argues, we begin to limit the resources teachers can use in their classroom. Further, we may be able to restrict what students can access on school computers, but once they go home it may be a less restrictive environment. The solution? Well it would be best for students to learn proper use of the internet instead of restricting their use of it.

Q1: How can internet access affect school negatively?

A1: It would seem that the use of the internet would lead students to become distracted and encouraged to wander into the net.

Q2: Is there a way to control what the students do online?

A2: There are certainly ways to monitor what students are doing on their computers. In one of my computer courses, the professor had total access and control of our computers; He could take control of every computer in the class.

Schaffhauser, D. (2010, December 1). It's time to trust teachers with the internet: a discussion with meg ormiston. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2010/12/01/Its-Time-To-Trust-Teachers-with-the-Internet-A-Conversation-with-Meg-Ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en&Page=1