Video in the Classroom

Based on Prensky’s descriptions, I struggle to decide if I am a digital native or a digital immigrant. I was born in 1985.  I did not have a computer in my house until I was 16, I didn't even have a cell phone with text messaging until I was almost 18 years old.  I remember a time when I could only send texts to people who were on the same network as me. :) BUT, I have been so immersed in technology that I think and teach like a digital native.  I don't remember a time when there wasn't at least one computer in classrooms, multiple computer labs, Smartboards and projectors.  From upper elementary on, technology has been a huge part of my education.  

Even though most people would categorize me at as a digital immigrant, I grew up with the explosion of technology, and I have grabbed on to it.  Technology has become a bit of a passion of mine.  I love anything and everything to do with it, so I tend to understand where my students are coming from and how their engagement is different than previous generations.  Working with middle school students has taught me to how to be humble and listen to them.  They are the best teachers for digital immigrants.  My students have never had to use a paper phone book, looked up information in an encyclopedia, or have to call "the weather line" (I still remember the number: 781-1616)

Building relationships with my students and listening to them has really helped me to understand most of their language around technology.  It is so important for educators to listen and really hear what our students are saying.  They are the best resource we have, and we can't take them for granted.  

Keeping students safe from undesirable social video content is a huge part of our job as educators. We must preview every video before we send it out to students and we must be careful of the type of sites we are sending our students to. Keeping ourselves informed of the inappropriate and unreliable websites will help us to protect our students.  I will never forget the first time I was in the computer lab with a teacher.  I think it was 3rd or 4th grade and she had us go to www.whitehouse.com, and it was a pornography website.  The teachers did not understand the importance of the domains in websites.  It was an embarrassing day for her, and a day I will never forget.  Being educated is the best way we can keep our students safe.