Interactive Whiteboards and Mobile Devices

Interactive white boards (IWB) are a growing trend in schools and when used properly, these devices can get students out of their seats and fully involved in the learning process. Teachers lucky enough to have an interactive whiteboard available in their classroom or through the school district are not always familiar or equipped to use them, however. An unfortunate trend is that teachers are using these boards but still following standard lesson plan format instead of using the technology to deepen understanding and strengthen the lesson. These devices can also be used to enhance or adapt learning for special needs students by focusing on all parts of the VKAT lesson plan (visual, kinesthetic, auditory, technology); It can gets kids out of their seats, listening, watching, and learning. I have used these IWB's in many of my lesson plans throughout teacher assisting/student teaching and I love all of the ways that you can get students involved in the material, it just takes a little extra planning and training on behalf of teachers who are used to traditional teaching styles. 

In this same way, mobile learning is a growing trend in classrooms as well. Students are already using their phones and tablets constantly, whether we like it or not, so we might as well utilize them in our lessons! I am very open to the use of mobile devices in lesson plans, as long as they enhance learning, rather than distract from it (which can be a grey line sometimes). For students with special needs, the use of individual mobile devices can help to personalize and customize lesson plans and students can use apps for extra assistance or support, which leads to more independent learning. Unfortunately there is a growing trend of teachers who are using apps and other mobile tools to replace instruction, instead of using it to engage and deepen understanding of the curriculum. It is simply not enough to say that this website, or this app teaches it the same way I would, so students can just learn from that instead. I love the idea of texting a daily vocab word to students or having students track their own learning online, or do research through multiple outlets.

 I think that using these types of technology in the classroom helps to teach students to become more independent and active participants in their own learning in and out of the classroom. 

Identity Theft: Are you safe?

 



Identify theft is a crime where key pieces of personal information (i.e. driver's license or social security numbers) are stolen in order to impersonate another person. With this information, the thief can start a line of credit, purchase merchandise or use other services in the name of the victim. Anyone can be victims of identity theft, but there is a growing number of occurrences involving child identity theft, which some have given the term "burdened beginnings." It has been estimated that more than 140,000 children are victims of identity theft each year, which leaves these victims with destroyed credit by the time they are 18 (huffpost). The potential impact on these children can have huge consequences later, including difficulty receiving student loans, purchasing vehicles, or credit checks for jobs and/or places to live.

Often this occurs because of data breaches on the fault of schools, stolen laptops, or lost/stolen mail. Data breaches leave people six times more likely to become victims of identity theft (huffpost). What's even worse about identity theft is that is often very difficult to locate the perpetrator because stolen credit cards or social security numbers are assigned new identities and names after they have been stolen. Many people may not even know that their identity has been stolen until its too late. According to PBS, "a picture posted on Facebook with your address or an accidental login into a fake Amazon page may be the only tools that a criminal needs to steal information."

Teaching students about identity theft is crucial in a growing technological society. Being safe online and keeping personal information private are important skills to teach young children who are rapidly becoming a part of the Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube generation. There is an app available to students called "Beat the Thief" designed by The University of Texas to teach children about safe information to share online. The app allows players to share various types of information in a social media type setting. Depending on how and what information players share, he/she either gains points or the thief gets closer (and may eventually steal his/her identity). It is a great real world example of how to protect yourself against these online criminals and its interactive and fun! To see an example of the app, click here.

No matter what age, identity theft is a real and growing problem around the world. It is our responsibility (as teachers) to keep our own personal information, as well as our student's information, protected, but also to teach the next generation how to stay safe and stay aware.



Sources used:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/students-identity-theft_n_1140119.html
http://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/85064-study-10-of-children-are-identity-theft-victims
https://www.identitytheft.gov/
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/identity-theft
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/education/2014/10/four-ways-to-help-students-avoid-online-identity-theft/

https://identity.utexas.edu/beat-the-thief-game